Government Spotlight | September 27, 2022

Vineyard Expansion Assistance Program

The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Vineyard Expansion Assistance Program (VEAP) application period is being reopened to both new and existing Ohio vineyards to replace non-bearing vines or to plant new vines. VEAP allows wineries/vineyards to invest in and plant high-quality, high-value grapes onsite instead of purchasing them from other states. The VEAP is an incentive program created and funded by the Ohio Grape Industries Committee (OGIC). The VEAP is designed to provide a more stable source of high-quality, high-value grapes grown in Ohio. Additionally, the program will allow for more Ohio wines to qualify for the Ohio Quality Wine (OQW) program and increase consumer awareness of Ohio’s premier wines made from Ohio-grown grapes.

Scam Alert: Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Filing

Secretary of State Frank LaRose warned Ohio business owners about a deceptive letter that he said is offering to sell a government service that the state already provides for free. One of the newest in a line of suspicious, misleading, and even fraudulent mailers involves Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings. This mailer claims to “obtain and mail a hard copy of your Ohio UCC Financing Statement Form” for a $90 fee. The same PDF document being referenced can be downloaded and printed for free at the Ohio Secretary of State’s website at https://ucc.ohiosos.gov.

Apprenticeship Program Training Reimbursement

ApprenticeOhio sponsors can apply for grants of up to $25,000 each to help cover apprenticeship training costs incurred since July 1, 2020. Ohio employers with registered apprentices in their workforces also can apply for the grants. The program is available through Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). The reimbursement grants are available as a result of a federal “Building State Capacity to Expand Apprenticeship through Innovation” grant that ODJFS received in 2020. Sponsors and employers can apply for the grants at Apprentice.Ohio.gov through Dec. 31. They can receive reimbursement of up to $2,500 per apprentice for up to 10 apprentices to help cover the cost of training and tool allowances. All applicants must have both a state of Ohio OH|ID, which can be secured online at: https://ohid.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/ohid/login.

National Small Business Week Awards Nominations

The SBA Columbus District Office is accepting nominations for the 2023 National Small Business Week Awards for businesses and organizations across central and southern Ohio, including the annual Small Business Person of the Year Award. Visit the SBA’s dedicated website at www.sba.gov/nsbw to download forms, criteria, and guidelines for submitting a national nomination. The SBA Awards given in celebration of National and District Small Business Week include the following awards:

•           Small Business Person of the Year (National and District)

•           Small Business Exporter (National and District)

The SBA Columbus District Office must receive all nominations by electronic submission ONLY to the District’s BOX account found at www.sba.gov/nsbw no later 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 8, 2022. To obtain additional information, please contact Shannon Feucht at shannon.fuecht@sba.gov

Broadband Infrastructure Training Program

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced a newly designed “Broadband Infrastructure Training Program” at Buckeye Hills Career Center in Rio Grande. The program will train Ohioans to help with the buildout of the state’s broadband expansion. Students will go through an approximately 12-week interactive learning journey that includes the design, installation and service components of broadband networks.

Intel Hiring Management and Engineering Positions

Intel is hiring experienced professionals for management and engineering positions at its New Albany factory, mostly in terms of facilities and site services. Some positions involve temporarily relocating to Arizona or another site for training assignments lasting from six months to one year. Management roles include site operations and commissioning, as well as project manager roles. There are also openings for chemical, mechanical, electrical and manufacturing network engineers. The full list, which is subject to change, is available at https://tinyurl.com/mr2zb8px.

ODOT’s Local Major Bridge Program

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is now accepting applications for funding as part of the Local Major Bridge Program, which provides federal funds to counties and municipalities for bridge replacement, bridge rehabilitation and bridge demolition projects. More locally-owned bridges would be eligible for funding as part of the program. Modified program requirements opened eligibility to 238 bridges, up from 54. During the current funding cycle, the program will pay up to 95 percent of the construction and engineering costs for major bridge projects, with a cap of $20 million.

Styling for Democracy. Now Vote!” initiative

Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced the re-launch of the “Styling for Democracy. Now Vote!” initiative that he started in 2020 to get more Ohioans registered to vote and to recruit more poll workers. The partnership works with barbershops, salons, and barber schools to encourage members of their community to sign up to be poll workers, register their family and friends to vote, and educate the community on the multiple ways to vote. Barbershops and salons looking to partner with LaRose on the initiative may contact Henry Curtis at hcurtis@ohiosos.gov.

Ohio Business Sponsor-A-Highway Program

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced this week a new litter control program that brings in the business community to help in the effort. Over the past few weeks, the first signage related to the Sponsor-A-Highway program has been installed along highways in the northeast Ohio area. The statewide program allows businesses and groups to fund litter removal services along one mile, one-direction segments of state highways. In exchange for their sponsorship, the name of the business or group is displayed on a sign within their sponsored segment. The program complements ODOT’s existing Adopt-A-Highway program, where volunteer groups adopt a two-mile segment of two-lane highway.

Dez Bryant
Vice President of Government Relations
dezbryant@columbus.org