The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has announced the Benefits Bridge Employer Pilot Program through a Request for Grant Applications (RFGA). This program is designed to support employers in incentivizing employees who are currently enrolled in public assistance programs by providing training opportunities that lead to increased wages and financial independence. The grant aims to facilitate employees’ transition away from assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Ohio Works First, Medicaid, or publicly funded childcare by funding employer-led training programs. Employers must submit their training program plans for approval, and upon successful completion of the program and verification of the wage increase, ODJFS will release funds to the employer.

The funding is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service in partnership with ODJFS. Grants will be awarded to eligible employers who commit to designing and implementing training programs that help employees gain skills and secure higher wages. Employers must provide proof that their participating employees have completed the approved training program and received the corresponding wage increase. Additionally, ODJFS will verify that the employee is no longer receiving or will soon stop receiving public assistance before issuing the grant funds.

The grant is open for applications from October 25, 2023, to June 30, 2025. Selected applicants will receive funding for State Fiscal Years (SFY) 2024 and 2025. The maximum award per employer is $100,000, with a cap of $5,000 per individual employee. The total amount granted may be lower than requested based on the availability of funds, the number of qualified applicants, and the time of application submission. Grants will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and ODJFS reserves the right to close the opportunity early if funding is exhausted.

Awarded employers must enter into a grant agreement with ODJFS, and funds will only be disbursed once all conditions and requirements are met. Employers should note that the program does not currently have guaranteed funding for renewal, and multi-year projects relying on future funding should not be proposed. However, if additional funding becomes available, ODJFS may, at its discretion, extend the program for an additional year.

Interested applicants should carefully review the final RFGA and supporting documents before submission. Questions about the opportunity have been addressed in a Q&A document, with the final version dated December 20, 2023. The grant application process is managed by Anthony Norwood, a Senior Sourcing Analyst in the Office of Contracts and Acquisitions. Prospective applicants can contact him via email at Anthony.Norwood@jfs.ohio.gov for additional inquiries. General grant support is also available through the Ohio Grants Partnership at Grants@OBM.Ohio.Gov.