A federal audit recommends permanently ending federal funding for a major Ohio manufacturing support program after finding $20.9 million in misspent funds, waste, and inadequate oversight over nearly a decade.

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The report, released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General, examines spending in Ohio’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership program from 2017 through 2024. The program provides technology support and job training to small and medium-sized companies across the state.

Auditors faulted the Ohio Department of Development for poor oversight of six local partner organizations that received passed-through federal funds. According to the audit, investigators identified unauthorized spending, waste, abuse, and self-dealing by board members at local affiliates.

Specific expenditures highlighted in the report include $2.3 million spent across affiliates on marketing, sponsorships, and events. Among those charges were $62,954 spent on promotional T-shirts by Ohio State University South Centers in Piketon, and nearly $100,000 spent on two events by the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, known as MAGNET, in Cleveland. The report also cited $6.6 million related to MAGNET selling personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal officials abruptly paused funding for the state’s program in December following preliminary findings. The loss of financial support led several local affiliates to announce plans to close.

In response to the audit, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, which manages the national partnership, stated it is reviewing the recommendations. The federal agency has launched a competitive application process to establish manufacturing extension centers in 14 states, including Ohio, with award decisions expected in mid-September.

Program affiliates and state officials addressed the report’s conclusions. MAGNET Chief Executive Officer Ethan Karp contested the audit’s findings, stating the report creates a false picture of the organization. Mason Waldvogel, speaking for the Ohio Department of Development, stated the department has zero tolerance for fraud, waste, and abuse, and is cooperating with federal officials to improve financial monitoring and oversight.

Source: WOSU — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Baaritaan Federaal Ah Oo $20.9M Oo Maamul-Xumo Ah Ku Helay Barnaamijka Ohio

Warbixin baaritaan oo uu soo saaray Xafiiska Kormeeraha Guud ee Waaxda Ganacsiga Maraykanka (U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Inspector General) ayaa ku taliysay in si joogto ah loo joojiyo maalgelinta federaalka ee barnaamijka taageerada wax-soo-saarka ee gobolka Ohio, iyadoo la dalbanayo in dib loo soo celiyo lacagahaas ka dib markii lagu helay $20.9 milyan oo dollar oo maamul-xumo iyo kharash ku bixis si xaq-darro ah ah ka dib baaritaan la sameeyay.

Baaritaankan, oo daboolaya muddadii u dhexeysay sannadaha 2017 illaa 2024, ayaa lagu lafaguray barnaamijka Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), oo shirkadaha yaryar iyo kuwa dhexe ka caawiya farsamada cusub iyo tababarada shaqada. Warbixinta ayaa ku edeysay Waaxda Horumarinta ee Ohio (Ohio Department of Development) inay ka baaqsatay kormeerka lix urur oo maxalli ah oo maamulayay lacagahaas federaalka ah ee loo soo mariyay gobolka.

Baarayaasha federaalka ayaa tilmaamay kharashyo aan la ogolayn, maamul-xumo, iyo xubnaha guddiga maamulka oo dano gooni ah ka raadsaday lacagta dawladda. Waxaa ka mid ah $2.3 milyan oo loo adeegsaday xayeysiis, munaasabado, iyo kafaalo-qaad. Tusaale ahaan, ururka Ohio State University South Centers oo ku yaalla Piketon ayaa ku bixiyay $62,954 T-shirt-yo xayeysiis ah, halka ururka MAGNET ee Cleveland uu ku bixiyay ku dhowaad $100,000 laba munaasabadood. Waxaa sidoo kale warbixinta lagu muujiyay $6.6 milyan oo ku saabsanayd iibinta qalabka ilaalinta shakhsiga (PPE) ee uu MAGNET sameeyay xilligii safmarka COVID-19, iyadoo la adeegsaday $1 milyan oo kharashka iibsiga ah.

Dawladda federaalka ayaa bishii Diseembar ee la soo dhaafay si degdeg ah u haysay maalgelintii barnaamijka ka dib markii ay soo baxeen natiijooyinkii hordhaca ahaa, taas oo keentay in dhowr urur oo maxalli ah ay ku dhawaaqaan inay xirayaan hawlahooda. Hay’adda U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), oo maamusha barnaamijka heer federaal, ayaa sheegtay inay dib u egeyno talooyinka warbixinta, iyadoo furaysa tartan cusub oo maaliyadeed oo ku saabsan 14 gobol, oo ay ku jirto Ohio, kaas oo go’aankiisa la filayo bartamaha bisha Sebtembar.

Agaasimaha Fulinta ee MAGNET, Ethan Karp, ayaa diiday natiijooyinka baaritaanka, isagoo sheegay in warbixintu ay bixinayso sawir khaldan oo aan habboonayn, isla markaana ay dib u egeyaan sheegasho kasta. Dhanka kale, Mason Waldvogel oo u hadlay Waaxda Horumarinta ee Ohio ayaa sheegay in gobolku uusan u dulqaadan doonin musuqmaasuqa iyo maamul-xumada, iyagoo la shaqaynaya NIST si loo adkeeyo kormeerka iyo maamulka maaliyadda.

Xigasho: WOSU