📣 Exciting News! We’re thrilled to announce that the Ohio Business Development Center (OBDC) now has an official fundraising page. Support minority and small businesses in Ohio by making a donation today. Every contribution helps us empower more entrepreneurs. Check it out: OBDC Fundraising Page 🌟
#OBDC #SupportSmallBusiness #EmpowerEntrepreneurs
INVITATION TO BID B26002
The Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority at 100 West Cedar Street, Akron, Ohio 44307 will receive sealed bids until 2:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at which time and place bids will be publicly opened and read aloud for:
Lawn Care Maintenance Services, Landscape Enhancements and Related Work at William E. Fowler, 681 Payne Ave, Bon Sue Apartments, Saferstein Towers 1, Saferstein Towers 2,
PRE-BID will be held on Wednesday, February 4th 2:00PM Located at AMHA, 100 West Cedar Street, Akron, Ohio 44307
Specifications can be purchased at SE Blueprint, 520 South Main Street, Suite 2411, Akron, Ohio 44311. (330) 376-1689 or at seblue@seblueprint.com
An email link for the above mentioned specifications is available at the Subcontractors Association NEO, 637 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron, Ohio; Akron Urban League, Minority Business Assistance Center, 440 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron, Ohio; the Builders Exchange of Canton, 5080 Aultman Rd., North Canton, Ohio; Builders Exchange of Cleveland, 9555 Rockside Road, Suite 300, Cleveland, Ohio; and the Ohio Construction News, 7261 Engle Road, Suite 304, Cleveland, Ohio.
To be considered Bids must be received by AMHA no later than 2:00 p.m. (local time) on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. Questions contact Michele Kindler, Assistant Contracting Officer at 330-376-7792.
Persons with disabilities needing assistance are asked to contact AMHA’S ADA Coordinator, 100 West Cedar Street, Akron Ohio 44307, 330-762-9631 or Ohio Relay at 800-750-0750 at least seven (7) days in advance.
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
Herman Hill
Executive Director
INVITATION TO BID B26001
The Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority at 100 West Cedar Street, Akron, Ohio 44307 will receive sealed bids until 2:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at which time and place bids will be publicly opened and read aloud for:
Lawn Care Maintenance Services, Landscape Enhancements and Related Work at Colonial Hills,795 Patterson Ave, Martin P. Lauer, Valley View
PRE-BID will be held on Wednesday, February 4th 2:00PM Located at AMHA, 100 West Cedar Street, Akron, Ohio 44307
Specifications can be purchased at SE Blueprint, 520 South Main Street, Suite 2411, Akron, Ohio 44311. (330) 376-1689 or at seblue@seblueprint.com
An email link for the above mentioned specifications is available at the Subcontractors Association NEO, 637 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron, Ohio; Akron Urban League, Minority Business Assistance Center, 440 Vernon Odom Blvd., Akron, Ohio; the Builders Exchange of Canton, 5080 Aultman Rd., North Canton, Ohio; Builders Exchange of Cleveland, 9555 Rockside Road, Suite 300, Cleveland, Ohio; and the Ohio Construction News, 7261 Engle Road, Suite 304, Cleveland, Ohio.
To be considered Bids must be received by AMHA no later than 2:00 p.m. (local time) on Wednesday, February 19, 2026. Questions contact Michele Kindler, Assistant Contracting Officer at 330-376-7792.
Persons with disabilities needing assistance are asked to contact AMHA’s ADA Coordinator, 100 West Cedar Street, Akron Ohio 44307, 330-762-9631 or Ohio Relay at 800-750-0750 at least seven (7) days in advance.
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
Herman Hill
Executive Director
Legal Notice: RFP 2026-005 Income Verification Software Platform
The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority is seeking Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of Income Verification Software Platform. The response deadline is 2:00pm February 6 th , 2026. Specifications may be obtained by visiting our website, www.cmhanet.com or by contacting the Purchasing Department of the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority at 880 E. 11th Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43211 or by calling 421-4434, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM, Monday – Friday.
Columbus City Schools – Accessibility Upgrades at Ridgeview MS (Pkg 1)
https://ohiombe.com/archives/26020
Columbus City Schools – Accessibility Upgrades at Ridgeview MS (Pkg 2: Safety Glazing Replacement)
https://ohiombe.com/archives/26023
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) – RFP: Yardi Consultant & Services
https://ohiombe.com/archives/26042
Have an upcoming business, procurement, or community event? Get it in front of Ohio’s small business and supplier diversity community.
Add your upcoming event to OhioDiversityNetworks.com
📧 Email jc@ohbdc.org to submit your event.
This Week’s Events
For full details, additional events, and updates, visit OhioDiversityNetworks.com.
Cleveland SBA – Financial Series 1: Basic Finances for Your Business
🗓️ January 15 | 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
📍 Online (Zoom)
This session helps small business owners understand how sales volume, fixed costs, and variable costs impact profitability.
Free
January 2026 OhioMBE Procurement Fair (Virtual)
🗓️ January 22 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
💻 Virtual
This online procurement fair connects small businesses with public agencies and organizations from Cleveland and Akron.
$40
Cleveland SBA – Financial Series 2: Using Financial Data to Manage Your Business
🗓️ January 22 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
📍 Online (Zoom)
Learn how to use financial data to improve cash flow, reduce costs, and maximize profits.
Mark your calendar! The January 2026 OhioMBE Procurement Fair is going virtual on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
This online procurement fair will connect small businesses with public agencies and organizations from Cleveland and Akron, offering direct access to buyers and supplier diversity representatives.
Event Details
📅 Thursday, January 22, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
💻 Virtual
💵 Registration Fee: $40
OhioMBE is now accepting applications for our 2026 Small Business of the Week feature.
Each week, one Ohio small business will be highlighted across the OhioMBE platform — including a feature on OhioMBE.com, placement in the OhioMBE Bid Board, and promotion across OhioMBE social media channels.
What selected businesses receive:
Investment: $150 (one business featured per week; space is limited).
Kwanzaa and the Courage to Claim What’s Ours
Read the full column
2026: Grow Your Business. Defend Your Access.
Read the full column
Quiet Corrections Aren’t Transparency
Read the full column
Community Announcement
Trades of Faith – Tool Drive for Future Trades Professionals
Trades of Faith is hosting a Tool Drive to help young people launch successful careers in the skilled trades. We’re calling on our community to support the next generation of builders, makers, and problem-solvers.
🔧 Donate new or gently used tools
💵 Monetary donations are also welcome
Training areas supported: Concrete, Electrical, Plumbing, PPE & Safety, HVAC, Carpentry, Automotive
Every tool helps open a door. Every donation helps shape a future.
merry&Black is live!
merry&Black is a curated lifestyle brand celebrating culture, creativity, and everyday joy. From thoughtfully designed greeting cards to journals, candles, and mugs, each item is created to reflect our stories, our voice, and the moments that matter.
🛍️ Shop merry&Black at merryandBlackshop.com
Promote your business, event, or service in the OhioMBE Bid Board Classifieds.
For rates and deadlines, email rbarber@ohiombe.com.
Know another business owner who could benefit from these opportunities? Please share the OhioMBE Bid Board.
At their first meeting of the year, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners selected Commissioner John O’Grady to serve as President of the Board for 2026.
Each year, the Commissioners choose one of their own to serve as Board President, a role that includes presiding over weekly General Session and Briefing meetings and serving as the primary spokesperson for the Board at community events, meetings, and with the media. The Board of Commissioners is the administrative arm of Franklin County government, overseeing county agencies and adopting a budget which exceeds $2 billion.
As President, Commissioner O’Grady will focus on advancing affordable housing, economic development, and workforce development, with a strong emphasis on supporting local entrepreneurs through the County’s Office of Economic Engagement and Community Development. His priorities also include maintaining fiscal responsibility during challenging economic times and working closely with community partners to ensure critical resources are delivered to residents who need them most.
“I’m grateful to my colleagues for the opportunity to lead the Board this year,” said Commissioner O’Grady. “Franklin County continues to grow and evolve, and with that growth comes great responsibility. My focus will be on making thoughtful, fiscally sound decisions that expand access to affordable housing, strengthen our workforce, and support the small businesses and entrepreneurs who drive our local economy. By working closely with our community partners, we can ensure resources are used wisely and reach residents where they can make the greatest impact.”
In addition to his local leadership, Commissioner O’Grady is actively engaged at the national level through the National Association of Counties (NACo). He serves on NACo’s Board of Directors, is a member of the Large Urban County Caucus, and is currently Vice-Chair of the Finance, Pensions and Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee, positions that help elevate Franklin County’s voice on federal policy and funding issues affecting counties nationwide.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners holds General Session meetings each Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. and Briefing meetings each Thursday at 9:00 a.m. All meetings are open to the public and available online.
Meeting information and access details can be found at: www.commissioners.franklincountyohio.gov/public-meetings.
A full biography of Commissioner O’Grady is available here.
Franklin County – Home Delivered Meals for Seniors
Due: January 9, 2026
https://ohiombe.com/archives/25906
Columbus City Schools – Accessibility Upgrades at Ridgeview MS (Pkg 1)
https://ohiombe.com/archives/26020
Columbus City Schools – Accessibility Upgrades at Ridgeview MS (Pkg 2: Safety Glazing Replacement)
https://ohiombe.com/archives/26023
Mark your calendar! The January 2026 OhioMBE Procurement Fair is going virtual on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
This online procurement fair will connect small businesses with public agencies and organizations from Cleveland and Akron, offering direct access to buyers and supplier diversity representatives.
Event Details
📅 Thursday, January 22, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
💻 Virtual
💵 Registration Fee: $40
OhioMBE is now accepting applications for our 2026 Small Business of the Week feature.
Each week, one Ohio small business will be highlighted across the OhioMBE platform — including a feature on OhioMBE.com, placement in the OhioMBE Bid Board, and promotion across OhioMBE social media channels.
What selected businesses receive:
Investment: $150 (one business featured per week; space is limited).
Only 3 spots left.
Construction cleanup is one of the fastest and most accessible entry points into the construction industry. This 4-week online class is designed specifically for startup and early-stage businesses looking to launch or grow a construction cleanup service.
Participants will learn how construction cleanup fits into the construction process, how to work safely on active jobsites, how to price and bid cleanup work, and how to position their business to get hired by contractors and project managers.
This course focuses on practical, real-world information — not theory — so participants leave with the tools and confidence to pursue cleanup contracts immediately.
👉 Register at OHBDC.org
Kwanzaa and the Courage to Claim What’s Ours
Read the full column
Community Announcement
Trades of Faith – Tool Drive for Future Trades Professionals
Trades of Faith is hosting a Tool Drive to help young people launch successful careers in the skilled trades. We’re calling on our community to support the next generation of builders, makers, and problem-solvers.
🔧 Donate new or gently used tools
💵 Monetary donations are also welcome
Training areas supported: Concrete, Electrical, Plumbing, PPE & Safety, HVAC, Carpentry, Automotive
Every tool helps open a door. Every donation helps shape a future.
merry&Black is live!
merry&Black is a curated lifestyle brand celebrating culture, creativity, and everyday joy. From thoughtfully designed greeting cards to journals, candles, and mugs, each item is created to reflect our stories, our voice, and the moments that matter.
🛍️ Shop merry&Black at merryandBlackshop.com
Promote your business, event, or service in the OhioMBE Bid Board Classifieds.
For rates and deadlines, email rbarber@ohiombe.com.
LEGAL NOTICE
ACCESSIBILTY UPGRADES AT RIDGEVIEW MS – PKG 1
ACCESSIBILITY, RESTROOMS, RAILINGS & EGRESS
Electronic bids for the above-referenced project will be received by the BOARD OF EDUCATION, City School District of Columbus, Ohio, Office of Capital Improvements, (via Public Purchase), until Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. More information can be found on the District’s web site at http://www.columbus.k12.oh.us/rfp. The plans and specifications are on file with Franklin Imaging.
Construction cleanup is one of the fastest and most accessible entry points into the construction industry. The Ohio Business Development Center (OBDC) is launching a 4-week Construction Cleanup cohort designed for startups and early-stage businesses ready to pursue cleanup opportunities.
Over four weeks, participants will gain practical, real-world insight into:
This session focuses on hands-on knowledge, not theory — so participants leave prepared to take action.
To ensure meaningful instruction and interaction, participation is limited to just 10 businesses.
➡️ Once all spots are filled, registration will close.
🔗 Learn more and register at OHBDC.org
As 2025 comes to a close, the Ohio Business Development Center invites our community to support the work that strengthens small businesses across Ohio.
Throughout the year, OBDC has helped entrepreneurs access what they need most to grow and succeed — Cash. Contracts. Connections. Through business training, technical assistance, construction education, certification support, and advocacy, OBDC continues to open doors and create opportunity.
If OBDC has helped you secure a contract, make a key connection, access financing, or move your business forward in 2025, please consider making a final, tax-deductible donation.
Your support allows us to continue providing:
Tax-deductible donations can be made at:
👉 https://givebutter.com/obdc
Thank you for supporting the work that helps Ohio’s small businesses thrive.
Ohio Business Development Center
Cash. Contracts. Connections.
Franklin County – Home Delivered Meals for Seniors
Due: January 9, 2026
https://ohiombe.com/archives/25906
As we close out the year, we’re offering a limited-time opportunity for businesses ready to be intentional about procurement in 2026.
🔥 Attend 6 OhioMBE Procurement Fairs in 2026 for just $99 🔥
This End-of-Year Sale allows you to secure access to six high-impact procurement fairs before our 2026 price increase.
What’s Included:
⏰ Offer ends December 30
This is a limited-time End-of-Year promotion.
👉 Visit OhioMBEProcurementFairs.com to secure your 2026 pass
Prepare now. Show up consistently. Position your business for contracts in 2026.
Mark your calendar! The January 2026 OhioMBE Procurement Fair is going virtual on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
This online procurement fair will connect small businesses with public agencies and organizations from Cleveland and Akron, offering direct access to buyers and supplier diversity representatives.
Event Details
📅 Thursday, January 22, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
💻 Virtual
💵 Registration Fee: $40
OhioMBE is now accepting applications for our 2026 Small Business of the Week feature.
Each week, one Ohio small business will be highlighted across the OhioMBE platform — including a feature on OhioMBE.com, placement in the OhioMBE Bid Board, and promotion across OhioMBE social media channels.
What selected businesses receive:
Investment: $150 (one business featured per week; space is limited).
Only 10 spots available.
Construction cleanup is one of the fastest and most accessible entry points into the construction industry. This 4-week online class is designed specifically for startup and early-stage businesses looking to launch or grow a construction cleanup service.
Participants will learn how construction cleanup fits into the construction process, how to work safely on active jobsites, how to price and bid cleanup work, and how to position their business to get hired by contractors and project managers.
This course focuses on practical, real-world information — not theory — so participants leave with the tools and confidence to pursue cleanup contracts immediately.
👉 Register at OHBDC.org
Kwanzaa and the Courage to Claim What’s Ours
Read the full column
Community Announcement
Trades of Faith – Tool Drive for Future Trades Professionals
Trades of Faith is hosting a Tool Drive to help young people launch successful careers in the skilled trades. We’re calling on our community to support the next generation of builders, makers, and problem-solvers.
🔧 Donate new or gently used tools
💵 Monetary donations are also welcome
Training areas supported: Concrete, Electrical, Plumbing, PPE & Safety, HVAC, Carpentry, Automotive
Every tool helps open a door. Every donation helps shape a future.
merry&Black is live!
merry&Black is a curated lifestyle brand celebrating culture, creativity, and everyday joy. From thoughtfully designed greeting cards to journals, candles, and mugs, each item is created to reflect our stories, our voice, and the moments that matter.
🛍️ Shop merry&Black at merryandBlackshop.com
Promote your business, event, or service in the OhioMBE Bid Board Classifieds.
For rates and deadlines, email rbarber@ohiombe.com.
Stay informed with curated content and the latest headlines, all delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now to stay ahead and never miss a beat!