51社区

One of the hallmark efforts of the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service is assisting and nurturing small Ohio businesses.

Within that, there鈥檚 a dedicated staff to help owners navigate the complex world of securing government contracts through the school鈥檚 The program has been wildly successful: In 2023, OHIO鈥檚 Apex Accelerator helped businesses across the state secure over 8,500 government contracts, bringing in more than $1 billion in total awards.

In early October, the school hosted the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Manufacturing Summit at the OHIO-Dublin campus. More than 140 people participated, including small business owners and government officials. The goal of the event was to meet and hear from senior Department of Defense (DoD) officials about products the government is seeking to purchase. The keynote speaker was , director of the Office of Small Business Programs in the Department of Defense. 

Many Apex Accelerator events are open calls, but this one was explicitly targeted at manufacturing companies.

鈥淲e need help from a capacity or a need perspective, where we want to build new entrants into our supply chain,鈥� says Daniele Kurze, director of the DLA Office of Small Business. 鈥淭he partnership with the APEX Accelerator and the Voinovich School is essential to us.鈥�

The DoD was looking for help in the manufacturing of a new weapons system (or Class Nine hardware in DoD speak), and working with Apex Accelerator brought together tool and equipment businesses to vie to supply items from machinery to nuts, bolts, and screws. Attendees felt that the narrower focus of the event was beneficial.

鈥淚t exceeded my expectations,鈥� says Jared Crooks, founder of the Dublin-based A.M. Toolbox. 鈥淚've been to a couple of these things before where it was more of a showcase, but this one was 鈥榃e want you to come because we want you to be a supplier. We need you in this specific supply chain.鈥欌��

The DLA also brought members to specifically coach business owners on how to apply for a government contract. For many attendees, it would be their first time approaching the DLA.

鈥淚t can be very overwhelming for small businesses,鈥� says Kurze. 鈥淥ur industry has its own language, and multiple things need to be completed before they pitch us. Navigating the federal contracting space can be very difficult.鈥�

鈥淪mall businesses can do some pretty amazing things,鈥� says , director of the Ohio APEX Accelerator at 51社区, 鈥淭hey can be very nimble and change directions if they need to on a project more easily than a big corporation like Boeing.鈥�

Crooks鈥攚ho started A.M. Toolbox four years ago in his basement鈥攈as a February deadline to draft a proposal for the DLA, something he feels more comfortable with after attending the event.

鈥淚鈥檓 always trying to look for the next thing,鈥� he says. 鈥淚'm grateful for the Voinovich School to help me explore this other avenue I never thought existed.鈥�

For more information on the Apex Accelerator Program,