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• Grant applications must be pre-approved prior to commencement of activities.
• Grant awards will be based on the overall quality of the export-related activities, as determined by the Ohio Development Services Agency.
• Grantee must be in good standing with all State of Ohio agencies, including the Department of Taxation.
• Grant awards are administered on a first-come, first-served basis and are contingent upon availability of funds.
• Grantee will not be compensated for activities also receiving funding through other sources (e.g., Food Export Association).
• Payment of the grantee's final reimbursement is contingent upon the completion of a closeout report.

The IMAGE program requires the application to be signed by a corporate officer, certifying that the following eligibility criteria will be met:

• Company operates a licensed business in Ohio to manufacture, assemble, and/or distribute a product or provide an exportable service.
• Company certifies that the products to be promoted contain a majority of U.S. content.
• Company has identified qualifying and achievable export activities or initiatives requiring financial support.
• Company asserts that it meets the requirements of the Small Business Size Regulations set forth by the SBA.
• Company has been in business for not less than the one-year period ending on the date on which assistance is provided under an IMAGE grant.
• Company is operating profitably, based on operations in the United States from the firm's most recently completed fiscal year.
• Company has taken the Export Questionnaire and achieved a score of at least 66.
• Company has in effect a strategic plan for exporting, as outlined under "Client Commitments" on the IMAGE Application.
• Company attests that it shall not knowingly enter into any transaction with a person in the Excluded Parties List System.
• Eligible activities must be executed by direct employees of the company.

IMAGE funds will reimburse companies a maximum of $15,000* (50 percent on expenditures up to $30,000) for participation in the following activities:

• International trade show exhibition: booth space rental and construction, interpreter fees, freight costs to ship booth and materials and trade show registration fees. (Travel expenses and domestic trade shows are not eligible).
• Approved trade missions (refer to link on the left): participant fees, interpreter fees, market research and appointment setting fees, economy-class airfare in accordance with the Fly America Act, per-diem lodging and ground transportation. Travel expenses limited to two people.
• Subscription to services provided by the U.S. Commercial Service: International Partner Search, Gold Key Service, Commercial News USA, etc.
• State of Ohio in-country support, U.S. Commercial Service, Gold Key Service or Food Export Market Builder: economy-class airfare in accordance with the Fly America Act, per-diem lodging, ground transportation and interpreter fees. Travel expenses limited to two people.
• International advertising: cost of production and placement of advertisements in magazines, newspapers, posters, billboards, direct mail, transit and on TV, radio and international websites. Printing costs are not eligible.
• Translation services: website and marketing material translations and localizations, label and packaging translations and technical manual translations. 
• Global Target Program: Cleveland State University and University of Toledo

*Companies located in the Ohio Appalachian region may qualify for a 75 percent reimbursement for their first $12,000 in expenditures.

The minimum IMAGE reimbursement amount is $1,000.

Many marketing-related expenses are considered "costs of doing business" or, for other reasons, fall outside the regulations of the IMAGE program and therefore are not eligible for reimbursement. For further details, please refer to the Ineligible Expenses link on the left.

To apply to the IMAGE program, return the following documents electronically to IMAGE@development.ohio.gov:

• IMAGE Application (Click here to download)
• Required Forms (Click here to download all forms listed below)
  • Authorization to Release Tax Information Form
  • Vendor Information Form
  • W-9 Form
  • SBA Self-representation Form
  • SBA Debarment Certification Form
• Companies that are re-applying for IMAGE and have applied within the last 12 months do NOT need to submit a new IMAGE application or Required Forms. To re-apply, please submit a Projected Expense Form.
• Companies that are re-applying for IMAGE but submitted their application more than 12 months ago do NOT need to submit a new IMAGE Application, Vendor Information Form, or W-9 Form. To re-apply, please submit the Projected Expense Formalong with the Authorization to Release Tax Information Form, SBA Self-representation Form and SBA Debarment Certification Form which are located within the Required Formsdocument.