Ohio University APEX Accelerator Breaks Records with $2 Billion in Federal Contracts

Article Presented By Ross Chillicothe Convention & Visitors Bureau…

(Athens) – Fiscal year 2024 was another record-breaker for the Ohio APEX Accelerator at Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, where $2 billion in government contracts were secured while assisting more than 1,000 clients.

Since 2002, the primary objective of the Ohio APEX Accelerator at OHIO has been to help small businesses in the 62-county coverage area navigate the complicated process of entering the marketplace with the federal government. All of the assistance comes at no cost to the small businesses.

“We have a concentration of clients who are serious and active when trying to win awards,” says Sharon Hopkins, director of the Ohio APEX Accelerator at OHIO. “They’re putting in the work and it shows.”

The Department of Defense was the most significant goal, awarding more than $1.3 billion in contracts, with Veterans Affairs doling out the second-highest amount at $247 million. 

“We have an amazing team across the board,” says Hopkins. “We have several veterans who work for us, and they really help the clients get the proposals in.”

Each year brings new challenges and opportunities in working with the government, and Hopkins is confident that the processes the Ohio APEX Accelerator at OHIO has in place allow for modifications. 

“We continue to closely monitor changes made at a federal level that could have implications for our clients and are able to pivot and provide assistance when changes are made to ensure their continued success,” Hopkins added.

For more information on the Ohio APEX Accelerator at Ohio University, click here.