The State of Ohio just started writing $15,000 checks for every STEM professional you convince to move here.
No catch. No retention requirements. No payback period. First-come, first-served until the money’s gone.
Here’s the deal:
You get $15,000 per out-of-state STEM hire who relocates to Ohio.
Max 15 hires = $225,000 total.
You may qualify if:
*You’re in manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, energy, financial services, food/ag, healthcare, logistics, military/federal, or tech
* You hire W-2 employees (not contractors)
* They’re STEM roles moving from out-of-state
The 4-step process:
1. Submit the quick application
2. Hire your STEM talent
3. Submit proof they moved
4. Get paid (~30 days)
Two surprises that work in your favor:
* Recent Ohio grads with out-of-state tuition status count as “relocations”
* Zero retention requirement – once they start, you get paid (even if they leave next month)
What you need to do:
Apply now at jobsohio.com/relocation – even if you’re not hiring immediately, you’ll need approval before you can request disbursements.
The application asks for your STEM hiring data from the past 3 years. That’s just to set a baseline – don’t overthink it.
Bottom line: If you’re planning ANY out-of-state STEM hires in 2025, leaving this money on the table is essentially adding $15K to your cost-per-hire.
Questions? Your HD Growth Partners advisor can walk you through the application.
Quick resources:
* Program Overview
* Full program guidelines (PDF)
* Online application
* Reach out to your HD Growth Partners advisor for assistance