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Committee hears testimony on bill to let nonprofits that sell donated goods apply for workforce grants
Summary
Witnesses from Goodwill organizations told the House Ways and Means Committee that House Bill 100 would allow nonprofit retailers that sell donated goods to apply to the Department of Development for grants to expand job-training and placement services for people with barriers to employment. Committee took testimony; no vote was recorded.
Chairman Romer and members of the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee heard proponent testimony Wednesday on House Bill 100, which would authorize a grant program through the Ohio Department of Development for nonprofit organizations that sell donated goods to create or expand job training and placement programs.
Supporters told the committee the grants would be used to remove barriers to employment for people with disabilities, returning citizens, veterans and others who face challenges entering the workforce. Ann Richards, president and CEO of Goodwill of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, testified that Ohio Goodwill organizations placed 4,500 people in competitive employment in 2024 and served tens of thousands through training and support programs. Willie Knighton Jr., reentry support specialist at Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio, said Goodwill’s reentry work produces a recidivism rate of about 5% for program participants compared with a roughly 30% state rate cited in his testimony.
The bill would allow nonprofit retailers that sell donated goods to apply for grant awards from the Department of Development to expand workforce programming, supporters said. Richards told the committee that Goodwill uses revenue from donated goods to fund many programs and that competition from for‑profit donation collectors has reduced the thrift‑store revenue stream in some areas. Richards and Knighton described programs that help participants obtain driver’s licenses and vital records, fund licensure and certification costs, and place workers with local employers.
Committee members asked about administrative costs and application limits. Representative Hall asked whether grants should include a budgeted administrative set‑aside; Richards said most of the local Goodwill organizations intend to use award funds entirely for programming rather than administrative overhead. Representative Hall also asked typical administrative percentages for grants; Richards said 10–12% is common but said the Goodwills testifying would not use the requested funds for admin costs. Representative Richardson and Representative Daniels said they regularly donate goods and asked how donors can distinguish nonprofit operators from for‑profit collectors; Richards said a recent law now requires accurate information on donation bins and encouraged donors to check labels.
No committee action or vote was recorded during the hearing. The committee noted written testimony on the bill from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and others was available in the committee records.
The bill had proponent testimony only and the committee advanced to other agenda items after witnesses finished.
