The University of Toledo

08/23/2024 | Press release | Archived content

UToledo Business Incubator Opens Ohio APEX Accelerator

UToledo Business Incubator Opens Ohio APEX Accelerator

August 23, 2024 | News, UToday, Alumni, Business and Innovation
By Nicki Gorny


The University of Toledo Business Incubator formally opened a new office dedicated to boosting government contract participation in northwest Ohio with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 22.

The Ohio APEX Accelerator at UToledo will host a range of services to empower small- and medium-sized businesses to pursue contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as other federal agencies, state and local governments and government prime contractors.

The University of Toledo Business Incubator formally opened its Ohio APEX Accelerator with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 22. From left are Jeanine Bragg, operations manager of the UToledo Business Incubator; Joey Scott, Ohio APEX Accelerator statewide manager; David Richardson, program coordinator for the Ohio APEX Accelerator at UToledo; Pamela Moore, director of the UToledo Business Incuabator; Matt Schroeder, interim president of UToledo, and Kristen Shinaver, social media and brand development manager of the UToledo Business Incubator.

The UToledo office joins a nationwide network of APEX Accelerators, including 11 offices in Ohio, created and supported by the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs. In Ohio, the APEX Accelerator program is hosted by the Ohio Department of Development.

"We are thrilled to receive this grant and look forward to leveraging it to significantly increase the participation of northwest Ohio businesses in government contracts," said Pamela Moore, director of The University of Toledo Business Incubator. "This funding will enable us to provide essential support and resources to local businesses, helping them to scale and succeed in the competitive government contracting arena."

The Ohio APEX Accelerator at UToledo will offer workshops as well as one-on-one counseling to equip businesses with the targeted assistance and resources they need to navigate the complexities of government contracting. By ensuring businesses can effectively compete for and execute government contracts, the program aims to strengthen the local economy while fostering a robust, sustainable and resilient defense supply chain.

David Richardson is the program coordinator for the Ohio APEX Accelerator at UToledo. It joins the Ohio APEX Accelerator at Rhodes State College in Lima in serving businesses in northwest Ohio.

The UToledo Business Incubator, housed at the Nitschke Technology Commercialization Complex, is dedicated to fostering innovation and economic growth in northwest Ohio by providing support, resources and development opportunities to local businesses and entrepreneurs. Through a variety of programs and initiatives, it aims to create a thriving business ecosystem that drives regional prosperity.