Some of the best resources for Ohio small businesses looking to expand are business people who have successfully navigated their businesses through the stormy seas of expansion. The Ohio Development Services Agency operates Entrepreneurship and Business Assistance Centers throughout the state that offer technical assistance, employee training, and financial counseling.

• The Ohio Innovation Exchangeis a collaboration between industry and universities in the state with the goal of making the latest research available to businesses of all types. More than 13,000 academic researchers and 600 resources from laboratories and campuses throughout Ohio can be accessed by businesses.
• Several sources for small business mentorship are presented in the Columbus Region’s Entrepreneur Resources, which include more than a dozen mentoring sources, such as the Columbus College of Art & Design’sMindMarket; SunDown RunDown that connects entrepreneurs with investors, mentors, and skilled workers via educational programs and workshops; and the first-of-its-kind Women’s Small Business Accelerator.
• The Northeast Ohio Startup Networkwas created by a group of entrepreneurial organizations in the region to supply new businesses with the financing, resources, counseling, and connections they need to succeed. Among the organizations the network teams with are the Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise, Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center, and the Youngstown Business Incubator.