Huber Heights awards $125,000 in TED Fund grants to local businesses

Huber Heights announced its first-year recipients of a city-run economic development grant program on Jan. 12, awarding $125,000 from the Transformational Economic Development (TED) Fund to local businesses and nonprofits.

"This past year, we decided as a city and with the council's blessing to do an economic development grant program for small businesses here in Huber Heights," Economic Development Director Jason Antonych said, introducing the awards and noting the TED Fund is financed from city-owned property and lease revenue, not income tax. Antonych said the city received 29 applicants for the inaugural round.

The program included a $50,000 matching grant (for applicants who had an EDGE or similar grant) and several buckets for small businesses, nonprofits, veteran-owned and women/minority-owned firms. Winners and award amounts announced by staff included: High-Tech Services, $15,000 (matching grant); TJ Chumps, $12,500; Caterpillars to Butterflies (nonprofit autism respite), $12,500; Huber Heights Floral, $12,500; Fast and Neat Services, $12,500; Lady J Beauty, $15,000; and Diamond Daiquiris (food truck), $10,000.

Dr. Fred Akins, who served on the grants committee, thanked applicants for their business plans and praised staff for organizing the process. Antonych said applicants must be in good standing with the city, provide ownership verification and submit narratives describing how the funds will be used and the expected economic impact.

The grant awards are intended to support relocations into Huber Heights and to bolster local small-business growth. City staff told council they plan to increase the TED Fund allocation in 2026 given strong interest in the program.

Next steps: recipients will complete documentation required by the city; staff will continue administering the program and report back on outcomes as the grants are spent.