The 2026 OhioMBE Awards
This year, we’re doing something different. The 2026 OhioMBE Awards will celebrate business excellence while connecting Ohio small and minority-owned businesses to the capital, contracts and relationships they need to grow.
October 22, 2026
Presented by the Ohio Business Development Center. Proceeds support OBDC programs serving Ohio small businesses.
Meet the nominees. Choose your favorites.
Get to know the nominated businesses and organizations. Read their bios, explore their services and celebrate Ohio’s business community.
Categories: Top MBE • Top FBE • Top Veteran-Owned Business • Top Nonprofit • Top Family Business
People’s Choice voting is now open.
GET IN THE ROOM.
The 2026 OhioMBE Awards are more than a celebration. This is a room built for opportunity—bringing together organizations with money, contracts and projects with businesses ready to grow. Our 2026 partners will help lead the connection by sharing procurement, purchasing, construction and capital opportunities.
Come Find Vendors.
You do not have to be a sponsor to be in the room. Attend to meet Ohio small, minority-owned and women-owned businesses, strengthen your supplier pipeline and hear what other organizations are buying.
- Meet potential vendors and subcontractors
- Connect with procurement and supplier-diversity peers
- Build relationships before the next bid or RFP
- Be visible in a room focused on business opportunity
Come Find Opportunity.
Do not come just for lunch. Come knowing who you need to meet. Hear directly from organizations with contracting opportunities, construction projects, purchasing needs, financing and business resources.
- Hear what buyers are looking for
- Meet financial and procurement decision-makers
- Identify upcoming contracting opportunities
- Leave with new contacts and a next step
The Connection List
Before the Awards, registered guests will receive a simple guide identifying participating organizations, the opportunities and resources they want businesses to know about, and who you should look for in the room. Pick the people you need to meet. Then Make the Connection.
Get Your TicketSponsor and partner speaking opportunities are reserved for participating 2026 partners.
Cash • Contracts • Connections
Instead of building the program around a traditional keynote luncheon, the 2026 OhioMBE Awards are centered on what Ohio small and minority-owned businesses need most: access to capital, contracting opportunities and meaningful relationships.
Meet Financial Partners
Financial institutions and capital partners will briefly share financing options, lending programs, business resources and other tools available to help small businesses grow.
Hear What Buyers Need
Procurement partners will highlight upcoming contracting opportunities, the vendors and services they are seeking, and how businesses can position themselves to work with their organizations.
Make the Connection
We will help business owners identify the financial and procurement partners they need to meet while everyone is in the room—turning the Awards into a place where introductions can lead to real opportunities.
Recognizing excellence, leadership and impact.
The OhioMBE Awards brings together business owners, corporate leaders, public agencies, elected officials and community advocates for an afternoon of recognition and meaningful connections.
The event highlights entrepreneurs and organizations that demonstrate excellence, perseverance, innovation and a commitment to creating opportunities throughout Ohio.
Explore the 2026 AwardsCelebrate
Recognize outstanding businesses, nonprofit organizations and community leaders.
Connect
Build relationships with business owners, decision-makers and supplier diversity advocates.
Inspire
Share success stories that encourage entrepreneurs to grow, compete and lead.
Support
Strengthen programs serving Ohio small and minority-owned businesses.
Choose how you will be part of the celebration.
Partnerships and reserved tables receive priority before general individual ticket sales. Tables seat eight, and attendance is limited to 325 guests.
Become a Partner
Put your organization in the room, gain meaningful visibility and support programs that help Ohio small businesses grow and compete.
View PartnershipsReserve a Table
Bring your team, clients or business partners. Each reserved table seats eight guests at Huntington Park.
Reserve a TableAttend the Awards
Celebrate Ohio’s outstanding entrepreneurs and organizations at one of the region’s signature small-business events.
Buy a TicketPut your organization in the room.
The OhioMBE Awards connects your organization with small-business owners, corporate leaders, purchasing professionals, public agencies and community advocates from across Ohio.
The Awards are presented by the Ohio Business Development Center. Proceeds benefit OBDC training, technical assistance, construction programs and business-development services.
Request Partnership InformationYour partnership supports:
- Small-business training and technical assistance
- Construction education and planroom services
- Certification assistance and procurement readiness
- Women-owned and minority-owned businesses
- Access to cash, contracts and connections
Presenting Partner
Exclusive premier visibility before, during and after the Awards.
- Recognition as Presenting Partner
- Two reserved tables for 16 guests
- Premier table placement
- Full-page advertisement in the event program
- Featured recognition in OhioMBE
- Logo on event materials and website
- Recognition from the stage
- Opportunity to provide brief welcome remarks
Champion Partner
High-visibility recognition and priority access to the event.
- One reserved table for eight guests
- Priority table placement
- Full-page advertisement in the event program
- Logo on event materials and website
- Recognition from the stage
- Recognition in OhioMBE
- Email and social media recognition
Support Advocate
Bring your team and showcase your organization at the 2026 OhioMBE Awards.
- One reserved table for eight guests
- Your logo in the event program
- Your logo on the big screen at Huntington Park
Community Partner
$1,500Four reserved tickets, logo recognition, quarter-page program ad and social media recognition.
Small Business Partner
$750Two reserved tickets, business listing, program advertisement and social media recognition.
Program Partner
$500Quarter-page program advertisement, website listing and event recognition. Tickets are purchased separately.
Partnership tables receive priority placement.
Only 325 guests can attend. Early partnership commitments receive the strongest seating availability and the greatest promotional value.
Contact Ronda About PartnershipsOrganizations investing in Ohio small businesses.
We appreciate the organizations helping make the 2026 OhioMBE Awards possible while supporting the work of the Ohio Business Development Center.
Franklin County Office of Economic Engagement & Community Development
Thank you to the Franklin County Office of Economic Engagement & Community Development for serving as the Presenting Partner of the 2026 OhioMBE Awards and supporting the work of the Ohio Business Development Center.
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority
Thank you to the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority for supporting the 2026 OhioMBE Awards and the Ohio Business Development Center.
Wright-Patt Credit Union
Thank you to Wright-Patt Credit Union for supporting the 2026 OhioMBE Awards and the Ohio Business Development Center.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Thank you to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for supporting the 2026 OhioMBE Awards and the Ohio Business Development Center.
Ascension Construction Solutions
Thank you to Ascension Construction Solutions for supporting the 2026 OhioMBE Awards and the Ohio Business Development Center.
Kokosing Industrial
Thank you to Kokosing Industrial for supporting the 2026 OhioMBE Awards and the Ohio Business Development Center.
Gilbane Building Co.
Thank you to Gilbane Building Co. for supporting the 2026 OhioMBE Awards and the Ohio Business Development Center.
Elford Construction
Thank you to Elford Construction for supporting the 2026 OhioMBE Awards and the Ohio Business Development Center.
Bring your team or reserve your seat.
Tickets and tables are available through the Ohio Business Development Center. Tables seat eight guests.
Reserved Tables
Bring your leadership team, clients, staff members or business partners to the 2026 OhioMBE Awards.
- Reserved seating for eight guests
- Organization or business name displayed on the table
- Corporate and small-business table options
Individual Tickets
Attend the celebration and connect with entrepreneurs, purchasing professionals, public agencies and business advocates.
- Admission to the awards luncheon
- Networking with business and community leaders
- Recognition of Ohio’s outstanding businesses
Your logo. Huntington Park’s Jumbotron.
Showcase your business with a logo display on the Huntington Park Jumbotron during the 2026 OhioMBE Awards on October 22.
$149
Purchase Your Jumbotron Ad — $149Celebrating leadership and community impact.
Join us at Huntington Park on October 22 as we recognize this year’s OhioMBE Award recipients.
Pastor Victor Davis & Trinity Baptist Church
Pastor Victor Davis and Trinity Baptist Church are receiving the 2026 OhioMBE Economic Development Award.
Read the Award AnnouncementEastmoor Academy Track & Field, Coaches & Dr. Tina Pierce
The Eastmoor Academy Track & Field team, Head Coach Jason Lewis, the late legendary Coach Ernie Watts and Columbus Board of Education member Dr. Tina Pierce will receive the 2026 OhioMBE Publisher’s Award.
Celebrating the Eastmoor boys’ 2026 Columbus City League championship, generations of coaching leadership and advocacy for quality student facilities. Their story also highlights the power of independent Black media to keep community issues visible.
Read More About the Publisher’s Award HonoreesYour participation supports year-round business development.
The OhioMBE Awards are presented by the Ohio Business Development Center (OBDC), bringing together businesses, buyers, financial institutions and community partners in support of Ohio’s small-business community.
Proceeds benefit OBDC programs providing training, technical assistance, construction education, certification assistance and business-development services to Ohio small businesses.
Learn More About OBDCConstruction Academy
Practical training, technical assistance and replay resources for construction businesses.
BuildSmart Mentoring
Guided business-development support for contractors and growing companies.
Certification Assistance
Help navigating business certifications and procurement readiness.
Business Connections
Access to training, contracting opportunities, lenders and decision-makers.
2025 OhioMBE Awards
The 2025 OhioMBE Awards at Huntington Park celebrated exceptional businesses, nonprofit organizations, advocates and corporate partners helping strengthen Ohio’s business community.
Keynote Speaker
- Jeanna Hondel
President and CEO, Ascension Construction Solutions
Top MBE
- Natural Green Cleaning Services
- To Go For Your Soul
Top FBE
- Exclusively BA
- Melanated PR Plug
- Makeup by Ahshia
Best Nonprofit
- Autism Society of Ohio
- Help for Homelessness and Beyond
Publisher’s Award
- Fortuna Bank
Frank W. Watson Advocacy Award
- Felix Garcia
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Legends Award
- Smoot Construction
Thank you to our sponsors.
Presenting Partner
- Franklin County Board of Commissioners
Advocate Sponsors
- City of Upper Arlington
- Wright-Patt Credit Union
Supporter Partners
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
- Elford Construction
- Ascension Construction Solutions
- Gilbane Building Company
- Hensel Phelps
- Kokosing
- Natural Green Cleaning Services
- Smoot Construction
- FCBank
Relive the 2025 OhioMBE Awards
View photos from the celebration and see the businesses, advocates and community partners who made the event memorable.
View the 2025 Photo GalleryBefore you join us.
When are the 2026 OhioMBE Awards?
The Awards will be held Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Where will the event be held?
The 2026 OhioMBE Awards will be held at Huntington Park in Downtown Columbus.
How many people can attend?
Attendance is limited to 325 guests. Partnership tables are assigned before general ticket sales.
How many guests are seated at a table?
Each reserved table seats eight guests.
Where do I purchase tickets or tables?
Tickets and tables are available through the Ohio Business Development Center at the OBDC ticket checkout.
Who benefits from the event?
Proceeds support OBDC programs that provide training, technical assistance and business-development services.
Be in the room on October 22.
Become a partner, reserve a table or purchase your ticket for the 2026 OhioMBE Awards at Huntington Park.