H.B. 435 Summary

• Creates the Manufacturing Technologies Assistance Program within the Ohio Department of Development to award grants to eligible manufacturers for adopting and integrating manufacturing technologies and investing in industrial infrastructure.

• Eligible manufacturers must have NAICS codes 31-33, operate in Ohio for at least 3 years, derive at least 51% of gross revenue from manufactured goods, employ no more than 500 full-time employees, and provide matching private funds equal to the grant amount.

• Grant awards are capped at $150,000 per manufacturer, with one-half of available funds reserved for manufacturers with 50 or fewer employees and one-half for those with 51-500 employees.

• Applicants must obtain a technical assessment from the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership before applying, and the director will use a competitive scoring process prioritizing higher manufacturing revenue percentages, favorable assessments, new technology deployment, and immediate project start dates.

• Appropriates $12,000,000 to the Manufacturing Technologies Assistance Fund in fiscal year 2025 to administer the program and award grants.