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Ohio PPE Retooling and Reshoring Grant Program Guidelines

Purpose

The Ohio Development Services Agency (“Development”) will accept applications for the purpose of providing grants to manufacturers and other entities to assist in retooling existing facilities through purchasing necessary equipment to manufacture critically needed Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for use in Ohio or reshoring PPE production to Ohio. These grants will allow small manufacturers and other entities an opportunity to create new business while contributing to the fight against COVID-19.

Application and Reimbursement Process

• Businesses apply for funding via an online portal.
• Development receives applications and shares with program partners for review.
• Applicant receives notification of award and enters into grant agreement with Development.
• Applicant receives initial grant funding for eligible costs incurred and may subsequently seek reimbursement of remaining grant funding after providing evidence of eligible costs incurred.

Eligible Applicants

Application is currently closed.

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a grant award:

• The applicant must qualify as a small business as defined by the SBA (typically 500 employees or fewer) or be an established nonprofit.
• The applicant must be able to produce the PPE solely at an Ohio facility owned and operated by applicant.
• The applicant must be one of the following:
  • An existing manufacturer that either has retooled or is planning to retool its facility or otherwise modify its manufacturing operation to produce at least one type of PPE identified below;
  • A new manufacturing operation being established for the purpose of manufacturing at least one type of PPE identified below; or
  • A nonprofit corporation that has undertaken or will undertake activities necessary to manufacture at least one type of PPE identified below.
• The applicant must be producing or plan to produce one of the following types of PPE:
  • Surgical masks
  • Gowns
  • Gloves
  • Community masks
  • Face shields
  • Thermometers
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Cleaning and sanitizing products
  • Other, as approved by Development
• The applicant must be in good standing with the Ohio Department of Taxation and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and be registered with the Ohio Secretary of State.
• The applicant must agree to make best efforts to sell PPE produced as a result of this grant program in Ohio before seeking buyers outside of the state.

Eligible Uses of Grant Funds

Eligible uses of grant funds include costs incurred to acquire equipment necessary to manufacture PPE, retool, or construct facilities in Ohio to manufacture PPE (including, but not limited to, building costs, design/engineering costs, facility expansion, complying with FDA requirements) and technological upgrades. Only costs incurred after March 21, 2020, (the date of Governor DeWine’s state of emergency declaration in Ohio due to COVID-19) will be eligible for reimbursement.

Award Amount

Eligible applicants may be awarded a grant of up to $500,000 per facility. Up to 20% of available funding may be reserved for manufacturers with fewer than 25 employees and registered nonprofits.

Collaboration

In awarding funds under this program, Development may coordinate with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA), the Ohio Manufacturers Association (OMA), JobsOhio, and the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network.

Award Process

Awards will be determined at the discretion of Development and the partners identified above as needed based on the applicant’s submission and overall availability of funds. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until funds are completely expended. Awards will be based on need for the type of product to be produced, speed to market, and production volume capacity.

Upon receipt of a complete application, information submitted may be shared with JobsOhio, OMA, and/or an MEP network partner. The applicable partner(s) will evaluate the proposed plan to produce PPE for feasibility, confirm manufacturing capacity, and ensure proposed product specifications meet the requirements of ODH, OHA and/or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Applicants must be willing to share their business plan and product specifications with the applicable partner(s) to be considered for funding under this program.

Disbursement Process

50% of funds awarded will be disbursed to the applicant upon execution of an agreement. Businesses must submit documentation within three (3) months of costs being incurred to prove the funds were used on eligible costs and to receive disbursement of the additional 50% of funding. Only costs incurred within 12 months from the date of award eligibility are eligible for reimbursement. To request reimbursement, businesses will be required to submit the following information:

• Invoices for costs incurred.
• Proof of payment.
• Proof that the PPE identified in the application was manufactured.

Reporting Requirements

Applicant will be required to submit a project completion report one year after the start of the project.  The report will identify the results of the project, such as PPE production information, any jobs/payroll created or maintained as a result of the project, and any additional information requested by Development. The Applicant will also certify in the report that the applicant is still manufacturing PPE at the project location.