Economic Development

Overview

Whether you’re opening a quaint shop in our historic downtown or growing a high-tech manufacturing operation along the industrial corridor, Berea is a great place to do business. Here, businesses are valued partners. Our residents and local government work collaboratively with entrepreneurs and employers alike to strengthen our economy and build a vibrant, dynamic community.

Supporting Businesses

The City of Berea Economic Development provides existing businesses with support to retain and expand their workforce and operations. Likewise, the Economic Development Department showcases Berea’s numerous strengths and advantages to local, regional and international businesses intent on expanding.

With a vast array of business resources at the local, county, state and national level, the Economic Development Department is devoted to connecting businesses with the resources that best fit their needs.

City of Berea Business Development Grants

The City of Berea has developed several innovative
grant programs to assist businesses with:

• Building Improvements
• Rent Reimbursement
• Exterior Signage
• Hood Ventilation System Install and Repair
• Digital Marketing

2026 Berea Business Grant Application
Grant Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions
Building Improvement Grant Sample Spreadsheet

Business Email Updates

The City of Berea Economic Development Department updates the Berea Business Community via a monthly email newsletter about of various programs, grants and updates.  

If you like to be included on future email updates click here

Partnership with the Baldwin Wallace University Digital Marketing Center

The City of Berea Economic Development Department has partnered with the Baldwin Wallace University Digital Marketing Center ("DMC") to help Berea business with their digital marketing efforts through a wide variety of programming.  

Through this partnership, Berea businesses are able to participate in a free 30 minute "Quick Consult" meeting with DMC staff.  At a Quick Consult, DMC staff can help with small Social Media, Email, or Website issues.  If you are a Berea business and would like to schedule a Quick Consult, please click here.  

If a digital marketing issue cannot not be adequately addressed in a 30 minute Quick Consult, the DMC also offers another free program to Berea businesses: DMC Small Project Services. Through the DMC Small Project Services, Berea businesses can receive immediate and short-term support for digital marketing projects that may take up to 10 hours to complete.

Berea businesses that are looking for assistance with an even more in-depth digital marketing issue, including: 

• Digital Presence Startup Package; 
• AI Adoption Service; or 
• Next-Level Strategy Development, 

The City of Berea and the DMC have teamed up to offer the DMC Grant.  Through the DMC Grant, a team of students takes a semester long, deep dive into the business and helps to position the business for future digital marketing success.  In order to participate in the DMC Grant, a Berea business must first be approved for a City of Berea Business Grant, please click here to download Berea Grant Application. 

As an effort to provide more digital marketing resources to Berea businesses, the DMC has created the Berea Biz Resource Portal website which contains digital marketing resources, tactics and best practices for Berea businesses.

The DMC has also prepared a series of materials aimed at helping Berea businesses enhance their digital marketing efforts. These materials were previously presented at previous seminars, but still hold of wealth of information.  Please see below for a complete list of materials.

Partnership with the Small Business Development Center at Lorain County Community College

Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are sponsored by the United States Small Business Administration and provide free services to businesses, including:

• Mentoring and Coaching;
• Market research;
• Business planning;
• Access to funding;
• Access to resources; and more

Interested businesses, should contact Beth Gantz at bgantz@lorainccc.edu to make an appointment.

Partnership with the Ohio University Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)

The purpose of the PTAC is to assist Ohio businesses to sell goods and services to local, state and federal government.  Through the partnership with the City of Berea, the PTAC is available to assist businesses to identify, compete and submit for government contracts.  Assistance can come in the form of one-on-one training, direct counseling, marketing and more.

If you are interested in speaking with PTAC, please register here: https://www.center-gateway.com/#/application_form

Developing Relationships With Businesses

We have worked to develop relationships with several local and national agencies that are geared towards helping businesses thrive

• 10,000 Small Businesses
• Aerozone Alliance
• Berea Chamber of Commerce
• Economic and Community Development Institute ("ECDI")
• SBDC at Lorain County Community College
• SCORE Cleveland
• Hispanic Business Center ("HBC")
• Ohio University Procurement Technical Assistance Center
• Women’s Business Center of Ohio 
• National Development Council ("NDC")
• And many more! 

If your business is interested in finding out more about any of these organizations, please contact us.

Please contact us to find out how we can help.