The January 27 OhioMBE Bid Board is live

OhioMBE Bid Board Preview
January 27, 2026
OhioMBE Logo
A publication of The 912 Group
Ronda Watson Barber, Publisher
Connecting small and minority businesses to cash, contracts, and connections across Ohio. Review bid notices at OhioMBE.com.
Bid Opportunities
NEW New this issue CLOSING SOON Bid date within 14 days
  • Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) – Lawn Care Maintenance Services
    Locations: Colonial Hills, 795 Patterson Ave, Martin P. Lauer, Valley View
    Bid Date: February 18, 2026View bid notice
  • Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) – Lawn Care Maintenance, Landscape Enhancements & Related Work
    Locations: William E. Fowler, 681 Payne Ave, Bon Sue Apartments, Saferstein Towers 1 & 2
    Bid Date: February 18, 2026View bid notice
  • Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) – Lawn Care Maintenance, Landscape Enhancements & Related Work
    Locations: Edgewood Village (Phases I, II/III, IV, V)
    Bid Date: February 18, 2026View bid notice
  • Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority (AMHA) – RFP: Snack & Beverage Vending Machines at Senior Hi‑Rise Buildings NEW
    Bid Date: February 19, 2026View RFP
  • Columbus City Schools – Accessibility Upgrades at Ridgeview MS (Pkg 1) CLOSING SOON
    Bid Date: February 3, 2026View bid details
  • Columbus City Schools – Accessibility Upgrades at Ridgeview MS (Pkg 2: Safety Glazing Replacement) CLOSING SOON
    Bid Date: February 3, 2026View bid details
  • Columbus City Schools – Building Envelope at Multiple Sites NEW
    Bid Date: February 11, 2026View bid details
  • Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) – RFP: Yardi Consultant & Services CLOSING SOON
    Bid Date: January 30, 2026View RFP
  • Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) – RFP: Income Verification Software Platform
    Bid Date: February 6, 2026View RFP
OhioDiversityNetworks.com – Upcoming Events

🎉 Calling All Black History Month Events!
Hosting a Black History Month event, program, panel, exhibit, or celebration? Make sure your community knows about it.

👉 Share your event on OhioDiversityNetworks.com and reach a wider audience of businesses, nonprofits, educators, and community leaders across Ohio.

✅ Free event submissions
✅ More visibility
✅ One central place to find Black History Month events statewide

Let’s celebrate our history, honor our legacy, and show up—together.

Looking for business, training, and community events across Ohio? Visit OhioDiversityNetworks.com for full details and additional listings.

SBA Cleveland – QuickBooks Essentials: Organize Your Business Finances
🗓️ January 28 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
📍 Online (Zoom)
Learn how to navigate the fundamentals of QuickBooks to manage financial statements and make informed business decisions.
Free

SBA Cleveland – Cracking the Code: Import Tariffs Explained
🗓️ January 29 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
📍 SBDC Lakeland Community College, Chesterland, OH
A practical, in-person workshop covering importing fundamentals, tariffs, and cost-control strategies.
Free

Cleveland SBA – ECDI’s WBC Cleveland: Boots to Business (In-Person)
🗓️ January 29 | 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
📍 ECDI VBOC, 1974 E. 66th St., Cleveland, OH
Entrepreneurial training for active-duty service members, veterans, and spouses focused on launching and growing businesses.
Free

Free Black History Month Programs – Ohio Statehouse
🗓️ February 3 – February 24 | Various times
📍 Ohio Statehouse Atrium, Columbus, OH
A series of educational and cultural programs celebrating Black history, preservation, and truth.
Free

Cleveland SBA – Small Business Orientation
🗓️ February 3 | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Online (Zoom)
An introductory session for aspiring entrepreneurs covering planning, legal considerations, and available resources.
Free

OBDC – Preserving Your Legacy: Building Financial Power That Lasts
🗓️ Tuesday, February 25 | 11:30 AM
💻 Online
As part of Black History Month, the Ohio Business Development Center is hosting an educational session focused on how intentional banking relationships and financial structure support long-term business sustainability and generational impact. The session will be led by Jeffery Washington of Wright-Patt Credit Union and will provide practical insights for startups and established businesses.
Topics include: Choosing the right banking partner, structuring business accounts, building banking relationships, preparing for financing, and aligning decisions with long-term legacy goals.
👉 Register at OHBDC.org

Apply Now: Small Business of the Week (2026)

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:

  • A featured spotlight on OhioMBE.com
  • Inclusion in the OhioMBE Bid Board
  • Social media promotion across OhioMBE platforms
  • Exposure to thousands of readers statewide

Investment: $150 (one business featured per week; space is limited).

👉 Apply for Small Business of the Week

Publisher’s Notes

When the Excuses Arrive: Why “Good Faith” Without Proof Isn’t Good Enough
Read the full column

Reflecting on Dr. King’s Legacy: What Does Accountability Look Like When Power Is Ours?
Read the full column

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

Classifieds

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.

🔗 Learn more or support the drive at TradesOfFaith.org

merry&Black is live!

Celebrate Black history, culture, and everyday excellence with the Making Black History Everyday lined journal by Ronda Watson Barber. Designed for reflection, planning, and daily intention, this journal centers our stories and reminds us that Black history isn’t confined to a month—it’s lived, built, and made every day.

📘 Purchase on Amazon


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.


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