by Staff | Friday, February 7, 2025
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Kristen Olmi, owner and CEO of KO Consulting, says the Mahoning Valley “has left a lot of money on the table” when it comes to getting grant money.
She and her firm are trying hard to rectify that situation by building an excellent grant-writing team that in 2024 secured $22.5 million for their clients.
KO Consulting also provides grant compliance, general consulting and project development services. “Our clients come for the grant writing but stay for the additional services,” Olmi says.
Funding raised by KO Consulting in 2024 for its clients includes $300,000 from the state of Ohio’s capital budget for the city of Girard to renovate a downtown theater and a $32,500 grant for the Kelly Pavlik Charitable Organization to support its fitness programming for underserved youth in the Mahoning Valley. In addition, Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past received nearly $55,000 in private and government funds to help it serve more than 1,500 individuals each year through youth and community education programming.
Through Norfolk Southern’s Thriving Communities grant program, KO Consulting helped to secure $50,000 for Youngstown State University’s Student Security Services division. The money was used to purchase an ADA accessible electric cart to transport students, faculty, staff and visitors with wheelchairs around campus, ensuring greater accessibility and inclusion.
KO Consulting also secured two state grants for P&S Bakery totaling $14,240 and identified a funding opportunity through the Inflation Reduction Act that fully financed a $40,000 forklift.
KO Consulting added 10 new clients in 2024 while diversifying its portfolio and service offerings. It expanded its national footprint, adding clients in California, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Texas.
In July, KO Consulting became a Better Business Bureau accredited company. In that same month, Olmi was named the Business Advocate of the Year by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber.
Additionally, KO Consulting signed an agreement with Josh Prest of Prest Public Strategies to provide government relations services for clients who want to pursue state and federal funding.
KO Consulting has offices in Youngstown and Cleveland and plans to open offices in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
Pictured at top: The KO Consulting team, from left: Josh Prest, Lisa Viscusi, Niko Mastorides, Carolyn Overton, Cara Annandono, Pat Lowry, Gina Magazine, Matthew Ellis, Kristen Olmi, Kelsey Fischer and Flavio Aiken.
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