LT. GOV. FISHER ANNOUNCES $26 MILLION IN ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT GRANTS

The Ohio Department of Development issued the following news release:

Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher today announced that $26 million from the Third Frontier Project's Entrepreneurial Signature Program (ESP) has been awarded to entities in six regions of the state to spur innovation and new product development. The ESP is a three-year, $85 million program that was created to significantly increase technology-based entrepreneurial commercialization outcomes in six defined geographic regions and to focus on technology-based sectors offering important economic development prospects for each region.

"Each region of our state holds unique opportunities for technological innovation and commercialization," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "By better utilizing our resources and encouraging regional collaboration, Ohio is positioning itself to get a better return on its investment in terms of jobs created, investments leveraged and products created."

The Third Frontier Commission approved the following funding today.

Northeast

The Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition (NorTech) was awarded $2.6 million. NorTech collaborators include: JumpStart, BioEnterprise Corporation, GLIDE Incubator & Innovation Fund, Akron Global Business Accelerator, Youngstown Business Incubator, Brain Tree Partners, MAGNET Innovation Center, Northcoast Angel Fund, Glengary LLC, The Fund for Our Economic Future, Cleveland Foundation, Greater Cleveland Partnership and Cuyahoga County.

Northwest

Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) was awarded $3.2 million. Regional Growth Partnership collaborators include: Bostleman Corp, Brooks Insurance Agency Inc., Carson Associates, Center for Innovative Food Technology, Fifth Third Bank, Hylant Group, KeyBank, Lucas County Improvement Corp., National City, National Electrical Contractors Association, Sky Bank, University of Toledo and White Family Investment Company.

Central

TechColumbus was awarded more than $6.1 million. TechColumbus collaborators include: Ohio TechAngel Fund II Members, Greif, NCT Ventures, Nationwide, OhioHealth, Village of New Albany, Village of Dublin, The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business, Fisher College Center for Entrepreneurship, Huntington Bancshares, Columbus Children's Research Institute, City of Columbus, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, DCB Financial Corp., TechColumbus, City of Upper Arlington, Franklin County and Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio.

West Central

Dayton Development Coalition - Development Projects, Inc. was awarded $3.7 million. Collaborators include: The Entrepreneurs Center, National Composite Center, University of Dayton Research Institute, BusinessFirst!, Springfield Community Improvement Corporation, Wright State University Foundation, Four Seasons Advisors, Mayfield and Robinson, University of Dayton, The Turner Foundation, Sinclair Community College Foundation, Premier Health Partners, CYMI Ltd., Soin International and the Dayton Angel Network.

Southwest

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber was awarded $3.8 million. Collaborators include: BIO/START, Hamilton County Business Center, The University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, TechSolve, Castellini Foundation, Fort Washington Capital Partners, City of Blue Ash, National City, Thompson Hine, The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati College of Business and The Circuit.

Southeast

Ohio University - Voinovich Center was awarded $6.5 million. Collaborators include: Ohio University Edison Biotechnology Institute, the Innovation Center, Adena Ventures, OSU South Centers, and East Central Tech Angel Fund.

The Entrepreneurial Signature Program is a comprehensive, coordinated network of high value services that is visible and easily accessible to technology-based entrepreneurs and small tech-based companies throughout its region as defined in O.R.C. 184.01(B)(2). Each ESP represents an approach that tightly integrates sources of deal flow, entrepreneurial support, and capital to effectively grow the technology-based entrepreneurial commercialization outcomes throughout its region.

Contact: Nikki Jaworski, 614/466-9161; Maria Smith, 614/466-238.