Bid Due: Friday, September 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Location: 10th Floor, Dorrian Building, 369 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215
Anticipated Start: October 27, 2025
Anticipated Completion: January 19, 2026 (date provided as “2025” appears to be a typo; adjust if 2025 is correct)

Project Overview

Elford (CMR) is soliciting bids for the renovation of the Franklin County Family Stabilization Unit on the 10th floor of the Dorrian Building.

Bid Packages

1.0 Final Cleaning

2.0 Selective Demolition

6.3 General Trades

9.0 Drywall & Acoustical

9.2 Resilient Flooring & Carpet

9.9 Painting

21.0 Fire Suppression

23.0 HVAC

26.0 Electrical & Technology

Requirements & Goals

SEBE Participation Goal: 20% Small & Emerging Business Enterprise

Wage/Tax: Prevailing wage applies; project is tax-exempt

Qualifications: See Article 8 of the ITB for Franklin County quality contractor requirements

Questions / Contact

Aaron Daman, Elford
 adaman@elford.com |  614-375-0931

Here’s a link to the bidding document

Nominations Open for the 2025 People’s Choice Award!

We’re excited to announce that nominations are now open for the People’s Choice Award, part of the 2025 OhioMBE Awards Luncheon on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Huntington Park in downtown Columbus.

The People’s Choice Award celebrates outstanding Ohio-based small businesses that inspire our community through excellence, service, and impact.

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📌 How It Works

✨ Nominate your favorite business by September 30, 2025.
✨ Eligible nominees will advance to the People’s Choice Voting Contest.
✨ Voting runs October 1–10, 2025.
✨ The winner will be revealed live at the OhioMBE Awards Luncheon.

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✅ Who Can Be Nominated?

• Any Ohio small business

• You can nominate your own business or another business

• Past winners are eligible

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⚠️ Guidelines

• One nomination per person (per email)

• Incomplete nominations may not be considered

• Multiple people can nominate the same business

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🎉 About the OhioMBE Awards Luncheon

The OhioMBE Awards, presented by the Ohio Business Development Center (OBDC), is Ohio’s premier networking luncheon celebrating small businesses, family-owned companies, nonprofits, and their advocates.

This year’s theme is “Inclusion Reimagined: Rising Together.”
Join us as we honor outstanding businesses and community leaders who are making an impact across Ohio.

📅 Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
🕦 Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Huntington Park, Columbus, Ohio

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👉 Submit your nomination today at OhioMBEAwards.com

The OBDC Construction Academy is excited to announce our upcoming September training sessions! These online classes are designed to give contractors and small business owners the knowledge and tools needed to grow, stay compliant, and run projects successfully.

September Classes Include:

• Certification 101 – Learn how to get your business certified for local, state, and federal programs.
• Construction Cleaning Checklists & Quality Control – Develop systems to ensure professional and thorough project closeouts.
• Managing Change Orders in Construction Projects – Stay in control of costs, timelines, and client expectations.
• Coordinating Subcontractors: Best Practices for Smooth Project Execution – Strengthen communication and collaboration on every project.

📍 All sessions are online.
✨ Free for OBDC members.

👉 Register today at buytickets.at/OBDC

🔨 Featured Contracting Opportunities:

• West Opportunity Center Lease & Relocation Services – Due Sept. 17
• Refuse and Recyclable Materials Disposal & Processing Services – Due Sept. 10

📥 View the full Bid Board:
👉 https://bit.ly/4neox2p

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📅 Upcoming Highlights:

🌐 Ohio Diversity Network – List Your Event for FREE!
Promote your workshops, networking events, or cultural programs at no cost.
➤ Submit: https://forms.gle/y7hbZPjfHv49iC4f8
➤ Boost visibility with a $99 featured listing.

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🏗️ OBDC Construction Academy – September Online Classes

• Certification 101
• Construction Cleaning Checklists & Quality Control
• Managing Change Orders in Construction Projects
• Coordinating Subcontractors: Best Practices
  📍 Free for OBDC Members
  👉 Register: OHBDC.org

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👑 SheLeads.OH Women’s Conference Recap

Women entrepreneurs gathered for an empowering day of Contracts, Cash & Connections at Quest Conference Center.
💬 Attendee Feedback:

“By far the best procurement fair I’ve attended.”
“This event was filled with tenacity and excellence.”

👀 Stay connected: WomenInOhio.com

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📰 Must-Reads at OhioMBE.com:

• When Representation Doesn’t Mean Inclusion
• Are We Progressing? 62 Years After the March on Washington
• Taxation Without Participation
• Why the CEA Must Stand With Black LEDE Businesses
• CCS: Capital Improvement Dollars — Who’s Really Winning?

📣 Like what you see? Share the Bid Board with your network!

—
Ronda Watson Barber
Publisher, OhioMBE
OhioMBE.com

August 27 OhioMBE Bid Board Is Live!

New contracting opportunities are available for small, minority, and women-owned businesses across Ohio. Don’t miss your chance to compete and connect!

Featured Opportunities

• 🏢 West Opportunity Center Lease & Relocation Services — Due September 17

• 🗑️ Refuse & Recyclable Materials Disposal & Processing Services — Due September 10

📥 Read the full Bid Board: https://bit.ly/46b3R5u

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List Your Event on OhioDiversityNetworks.com — FREE!

Got a business training, networking opportunity, or cultural celebration coming up?
You can list your event at no cost on Ohio’s go-to hub for diverse business and community happenings.

🔗 Submit your event here: https://forms.gle/y7hbZPjfHv49iC4f8

Want more visibility? Upgrade to a Featured Listing for just $99 and get promoted on our social platforms and newsletters.

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ICYMI: SheLeads.OH Women’s Conference Was a Success!

On August 20, women entrepreneurs and leaders from across Ohio gathered at the Quest Conference Center for a day filled with Contracts, Cash, and Connections.

From the OhioMBE Procurement Fair and FundHer Finance Fair to powerful panels and networking opportunities, attendees left inspired and equipped to grow their businesses.

💬 “This was by far the best procurement fair I’ve attended. I met so many wonderful connections and gained valuable resources!”

Stay connected and learn more at WomenInOhio.com.

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🌟 Add Your Business to the OWCC Directory

Join the Ohio Women’s Chamber of Commerce Business Directory and showcase your products and services to a growing network of clients, collaborators, and opportunities.

✨ Pay What You Can Membership — no barriers, no limits.
📬 Submit your business today: WomenInOhio.com

The OhioMBE Awards Luncheon, presented by OBDC returns on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at Huntington Park in downtown Columbus.

Join us for Ohio’s premier celebration of small, minority, and female-owned businesses, nonprofits, and family-owned companies, along with the advocates who champion them. Connect, network, and honor outstanding achievements from across Ohio.

✨ Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
✨ Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
✨ Location: Huntington Park, Columbus, OH

🎟️ Reserve your seat today: buytickets.at/obdc

Are you ready to take on public projects? Understanding prevailing wage requirements is essential for contractors and small business owners who want to work on government-funded construction projects.

Join the OBDC Construction Academy for a focused online training session designed to help you navigate prevailing wage laws and stay in compliance.

What You’ll Learn

• The basics of prevailing wage laws
• How compliance impacts contractors and subcontractors
• Record-keeping and reporting requirements
• Strategies to avoid costly penalties

Event Details

📅 Wednesday, August 27, 2025
🕦 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
💻 Online via Zoom
✅ Free for OBDC Members

This training is ideal for contractors, subcontractors, and small business owners preparing to bid on public projects.

👉 Register today at OHBDC.org

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of Public Facility Management (PFM), is requesting proposals for:

📌 RFP #2025-03-15
Refuse and Recyclable Materials Disposal and Processing Services

📅 Proposal Deadline:
Wednesday, September 10, 2025 @ 3:30 PM (ET)

📝 Project Summary:
Qualified vendors are invited to submit proposals to provide collection, transportation, and disposal or processing of refuse and recyclable materials from Franklin County Facilities.

📍 Pre-Proposal Conference:
Date: August 27, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM (ET)

📬 Submit Questions To:
Erika Patray, Senior Purchasing Coordinator
📧 Email: epatray@franklincountyohio.gov
📞 Phone: 614.525.2595
Deadline for Questions: August 29, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET

📌 Additional Details:
All amendments and clarifications will be posted on the Purchasing Department website. It is the responsibility of all interested parties to monitor:
🔗 Franklin County Bid Opportunities

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Franklin County Board of Commissioners:

• Erica C. Crawley, President
• John O’Grady, Commissioner
• Kevin L. Boyce, Commissioner

📣 Visit OhioMBE.com for more contracting opportunities!

The countdown is almost over. The SheLeads.OH Women’s Business Conference, presented by the Ohio Women’s Chamber of Commerce, happens this Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at the Quest Conference Center in Columbus. Today is the last day to secure your ticket.

This year’s theme is Power Moves – Cash, Contracts, and Connections, and the conference is packed with opportunities designed to equip women business owners and professionals with the tools, resources, and networks to grow and thrive.

Highlights include:

• Power Lunch Panel featuring trailblazing women leaders sharing their journeys, strategies, and insights.
• FundHer Finance Fair – meet one-on-one with bankers and lending partners to explore loan programs and financing solutions for women-owned businesses.
• Workshops & Mini-Sessions – practical sessions on certifications, marketing strategies, and business growth.
• Networking & Marketplace – build powerful connections and support women-owned vendors in the SheCommerce Marketplace.

“Women in Ohio are making bold moves in business, and this conference is where the momentum happens,” said Ronda Watson Barber, Founder of the Ohio Women’s Chamber of Commerce. “This is about more than inspiration — it’s about real resources, real opportunities, and real connections.”

📅 Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
📍 Location: Quest Conference Center, Columbus, Ohio
🔗 Register today before ticket sales close: WomenInOhio.com

Don’t miss your chance to be in the room where women are making Power Moves. Secure your spot now!

The countdown is on! The SheLeads.OH Women’s Business Conference, presented by the Ohio Women’s Chamber of Commerce, is just days away – and this is your chance to be in the room where Cash, Connections, and Contracts happen.

📅 Wednesday, August 20, 2025
📍 Quest Conference Center | Columbus, OH
🎟️ Register now at WomenInOhio.com

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🚨 Bring-a-Friend Special – This Weekend Only!

When you register for the SheLeads.OH Women’s Business Conference, you can bring a friend for FREE.
Double the networking, double the opportunity — at no extra cost.
But hurry — this offer ends Sunday at midnight.

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Why You Can’t Miss This Event

SheLeads.OH is Ohio’s premier gathering for women entrepreneurs, executives, and changemakers. This full-day event is designed to connect you with real opportunities and real results — from financing to contracts and everything in between.

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Highlights Include

Funding Power Panel

Learn from top lenders, CDFIs, and state agencies on how to access capital, improve your business credit, and position yourself for growth. This interactive panel will give you the tools and confidence to pursue the funding your business deserves.

How to Market Your Certification Masterclass

You worked hard to earn your certifications — now learn how to leverage them! This session will share strategies to position your M/WBE, EDGE, DBE, and other certifications to win contracts and grow your client base.

OhioMBE Procurement Fair

Meet one-on-one with buyers from public agencies, corporations, and institutions ready to do business with certified suppliers. These are appointment-based sessions designed to start meaningful contracting relationships.

FundHer Finance Fair

Talk directly with banks, credit unions, and funding organizations about loans, credit-building tools, and alternative financing options.

Vendor & Resource Marketplace

Discover women-owned businesses, resource partners, and services that can help your business thrive.

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Add Your Business to the Statewide Directory

Every attendee is invited to add their business to the Ohio Women’s Chamber of Commerce Directory at WomenInOhio.com — a searchable, statewide resource connecting women entrepreneurs to customers, collaborators, and contracting opportunities.

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Final Call

Seats are filling fast. Don’t miss your chance to make connections, learn strategies, and leave with actionable opportunities to grow your business.

📍 Register today at WomenInOhio.com
Because your next big break might just be in the room.