Committee hears bill to create Ohio Defense Commission, fund SCIF space and grants for small defense firms

At a House Veterans and Military Development Committee hearing, sponsors introduced House Bill 292 to create an Ohio Defense Commission and an Ohio Defense Fund to promote the state’s defense industry, support secured classified workspaces known as SCIFs and provide grant and matching funds to small- and medium-sized defense companies. Vice Chair Matthews and Representative Nick Santucci presented sponsor testimony and answered questions from committee members.

The bill’s sponsors told the committee the commission would develop a statewide defense strategy, encourage collaboration among stakeholders and recruit domestic and international defense investment. "We will provide grant dollars and matching dollars for SCIF space development across Ohio," Vice Chair Matthews said, using the SCIF acronym and explaining it refers to a Secured Compartmented Information Facility for work on classified material. Matthews described three focus areas for the proposed Ohio Defense Fund: SCIF space development, grants or matching funds to small- and medium-sized defense firms, and a capital stack of federal and nonfederal match dollars to help recruit bases, missions or manufacturers.

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