WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has awarded $665,000 in congressionally directed spending (CDS) to Hiram College. The investment will help to build an Office of Workforce Development and Civic Engagement at Hiram, which will serve as a launching pad for an array of new certificate and degree programs that respond to the workforce needs of small businesses in Northeast Ohio. Brown helped secure this funding in the FY22 government funding legislation through CDS requests he submitted.

“We know that Ohio students can compete with anyone in the world with the right support and resources,” said Brown. “This investment will help support students, connect them with local businesses, and bolster economic growth in Northeast Ohio.

The SBA is a cabinet-level federal agency dedicated to small business improvement and success. Its mission is to ignite change and spark action so small businesses can start, grow, expand, and recover.