Economic Development Department

Business Assistance Programs

For more information on the following programs, contact Peggy Weil Dorfman, (440) 349-6327.

Please select a topic... Enterprise Zone Tax Abatement Industrial Revenue Bonds Job Creation Grant Growth & Revitalization Incentive Relocation Assistance Employment Postings International Business Development Site Plan Assistance Cuyahoga County Loan Programs International Trade Program On the Job Training Buy In Cuyahoga County Employee Transportation Team NEO State of Ohio Ohio Jobs Creation Tax Credit Ohio Job Training Tax Credit Machinery and Equipment Tax Grant Machinery and Equipment Exemption R & D Sales Tax Credit R & D Investment Tax Credit Technology Investment Tax Credit WHS Machinery & Equipment Exemption Export Assistance Workforce Training Assistance Technology Transfer Cleveland Port Authority Common Bond Fund Program Off Balance Sheet Financing First Energy Export Assistnace North Coast Int. Trade Assistance LakeLand Community College Center - Bus. and Ind.

CITY OF SOLON

ENTERPRISE ZONE TAX ABATEMENT
Solon’s Enterprise Zone encompasses the industrial district in the southwest portion of the city.  State law enables the city to offer abatement on real estate and/or tangible personal property taxes for up to 75% for up to 15 years to eligible businesses seeking to establish, expand, renovate or occupy a facility and that will create new and/or preserve existing jobs. [top of page]

INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS
Enables borrowers to obtain funds for building and capital equipment from private sources at favorable interest rates.  Because of the City’s involvement, interest on loans is tax-free, resulting in considerable savings to the borrower.  IRB’s are also available through the county and state. [top of page]

JOB CREATION GRANT
Available to eligible businesses that will create a minimum of 50 new jobs or $ 1,000,000 in new payroll within 3 years.  The annual grant may be awarded for up to 10 years and is calculated as a percentage (maximum 50%) of annual payroll taxes. [top of page]

GROWTH & REVITALIZATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM – One-time grant to property owners to encourage redevelopment, improvements, or demolition of obsolete and fully or partially vacant industrial, office, and retail/commercial buildings.  Storefront renovation projects do not have a building vacancy requirement. Grant is paid on a reimbursement basis after project completion.
[top of page]

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
Listing of available office, warehouse, manufacturing, commercial space in the City of Solon, including lease/sale price and contacts.  Available by mail, fax or on the following websites: www.solonchamber.com and www.solonohio.org.  [top of page]

EMPLOYMENT POSTINGS
Solon businesses may post job opportunities on the City’s web site.  [top of page]

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Resource information is available on the City’s web site for Solon companies interested in international trade and foreign companies seeking a location in northeast Ohio.  Periodic educational seminars are sponsored by the Solon Chamber of Commerce.  The Chamber’s International Business Roundtable meets several times a year and provides a forum for mentoring, sharing solutions, and matchmaking of trade partners.  For information on the International Roundtable or upcoming seminars, call the Solon Chamber of Commerce at (440) 248-5080.  For all other information related to international business development, contact Peggy Weil Dorfman at  (440) 337-1313.  [top of page]

SITE PLAN ASSISTANCE
Businesses planning new construction, exterior renovations, or landscaping projects should contact Planning Director Rob Frankland, (440)349-6327, for assistance with site plan review and guidance through the approval process. [top of page]

CUYAHOGA COUNTY

For information on the following programs, contact the Cuyahoga County Department of Development at (216) 443-7260; www.development.cuyahogacounty.us

INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS
Provides funds for expansion, construction and relocation of manufacturing facilities.  The bonds may be used for the purchase of land or equipment.  [top of page]

LOAN PROGRAMS
Loans between $ 35,000 and $ 1,500,000 are available through various loan programs to commercial, retail, industrial or service businesses that expand or move into the county.   [top of page]

INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROGRAM
This program works to expand Greater Cleveland's position in the global marketplace by providing assistance to local businesses in identifying trade opportunities, expanding sales in international markets, creating joint ventures, etc. The program is coordinated with the Cleveland World Trade Association and other local, state, and federal efforts.  [top of page]

GROW CUYAHOGA FUND
Loans for small businesses, including retail and restaurants, to grow their businesses.  Loans can range from $35,000 to $1,000,000 at a rate of prime to prime plus 2%, with terms up to 25 years.  Proceeds may be used for working capital, machinery and equipment, land and building acquisition, construction, renovations, and tenant improvements.    [top of page]

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING
Reimburses employers for up to 50% of worker's wages paid during training. Training is on-site and tailored to the needs of the individual employer. For information, contact the Cuyahoga County Department of Development, Division of Work and Training at (216) 987-8242.  [top of page]

BUY IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY
The County Department of Development has initiated a database to encourage businesses to buy from local manufacturers. The database enables businesses that produce products within Cuyahoga County to post a profile online, including address, web site and product information, at no charge. To learn more, please visit. www.cuyahogacounty.us/development/buy.  [top of page]

EMPLOYEE TRANSPORTATION

Carpooling and vanpooling arrangements can be made through RIDESHARE, a program of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency.  For information, call 1-800-825-RIDE. 

RTA Mobility Specialists are available to help employees who need transportation to connect with the right resources.  Specialists serve each of the eleven County Neighborhood Family Service Centers based on residential location.  To speak to a Mobility Specialist, please call 1-866-WTW-TRIP.    [top of page]

TEAM NEO

Team NEO is a regional economic development organization that offers business services including real estate and capital finance, incentives information, workforce data, expansion strategies, and business networking. For information, call (216) 363-5400. www.teamneo.org   [top of page]

STATE OF OHIO

For information, please contact the Ohio Department of Development at (800) 848-1300 or (216)787-3240. www.odod.state.oh.us

OHIO JOBS CREATION TAX CREDIT
Provides a refundable credit against a company’s state franchise or income tax based on the incremental personal income tax paid by employees new to Ohio’s tax base.  Companies adding a minimum of 25 employees (compensated at 150% of the state minimum wage) over a three year period are eligible to apply for the credit.  The amount of the credit and term is negotiable.  [top of page]

OHIO JOB TRAINING TAX CREDIT
Refundable credit against a company’s state franchise or income tax based on the incremental personal income tax paid by employees new to Ohio’s tax base.  Companies adding a minimum of 25 employees (compensated at 150% of the state minimum wage) over a three year period are eligible to apply for the credit.   [top of page]

MANUFATUREING MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT GRANT
Provides a non-refundable corporate franchise or state income tax credit based on the purchase of new or retooled M&E for manufacturing located in Ohio.     [top of page]

MANUFATUREING MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT SALES TAX EXEMPTION
Exemption from state and county sales tax for companies that purchase M&E for mfg. activities.  [top of page]

R&D SALES TAX CREDIT
Exempts from state and county sales tax purchases of machinery and equipment used primarily for R&D activities as defined by the enabling legislation.  [top of page]

R&D INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT
Nonrefundable tax credit against corporate franchise tax to encourage corporations to invest in increased R&D activities..  [top of page]

TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT
Credits on personal income tax, corporate franchise tax, public utility excise tax or tax on dealers’ intangibles for Ohio taxpayers who invest in small, R&D and technology-oriented firms.[top of page]

WAREHOUSE MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT SALE EXEMPTION
Exemption from state and county sales tax for purchase of eligible warehousing M&E.  [top of page]

EXPORT ASSISTANCE
Ohio Department of Development International Trade Division offers export marketing and financing counseling, agent and distributor searches, organizes business missions, exhibits at international trade shows, and provides contacts for entering the international market.  Services are free of charge.  For information call Sean Corson, at (614)728-4775 or visit  www.odod.state.oh.us/itd .  [top of page]

WORKFORCE TRAINING ASSISTANCE
The Ohio Industrial Training Program provides grants for up to 50% of eligible training costs for employees of a company’s choosing.  In addition, the Federal Job training Partnership Act offers U.S. income tax credits for employers hiring persons representing certain target segments of the workforce.  [top of page]

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Greater Cleveland is served by a number of technology transfer organizations.  Principal specialties are polymers, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing systems, and aerospace.  These organizations typically consist of one or more participating academic institutions and an industrial membership, which has special access rights to innovations emerging from research directed by the relevant technology center. [top of page]

CLEVELAND PORT AUTHORITY

For information on the following programs, contact Linda Highsmith-Poole at (216) 241-8004; www.portofcleveland.com/development

COMMON BOND FUND PROGRAM
Provides long-term (up to 20 years), fixed interest rate financing of $1 million to $6 million to credit worthy businesses for owner occupied industrial and commercial projects for land and building acquisition, new construction, renovations, and purchase and installation of equipment.    [top of page]

OFF BALANCE SHEET FINANCING
Provides fixed rate, long-term financing of $ 3 million to over $ 100 million for expansion or relocation.  The Port Authority finances, builds and owns the assets and leases them to the company.  At the end of the original lease term, the company may exercise an option to extend the lease, buy the asset at the then-market rate, or vacate the premises.[top of page]

FIRST ENERGY EXPORT ASSISTANCE

First Energy provides business customers with access to trade information on more than 50 industries in 78 countries, including key contacts, industry sector analyses, country commercial overviews, investment regulations, information on trade shows and government assistance.  For information, call 1-800-371-XPORT;   [top of page]

NORTH COAST INTERNATIONAL TRADE ASSISTANCE CENTER

Provides free counseling and support to small and medium-sized enterprises.  Services include assessment of export readiness, export training, product evaluation for foreign markets, counseling on export financing programs, and help with development of an export marketing plan, market research, finding foreign distributors and agents, compliance issues and export documentation. For information, contact (440) 357-2290 X 29 or  itac@cedc.org [top of page]

LAKELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

On-site custom training for employee performance, quality training, technical skills, industrial maintenance; retraining for downsized employees; job/skills assessments. For information, contact (440) 525-7315 or www.lakelandcbi.com. [top of page]

For information about the City of Solon's economic development activities, please contact Peggy Weil Dorfman at (440) 337-1313 or pweil@solonohio.org.