ECDI Blog

Small Business Tips, News and More

May 1

Support AAPI small business owners throughout Ohio

Discover AAPI-owned businesses that are ECDI clients and members of the Food Fort in Columbus, Ohio.

Mar 2

Support Our Community of Women-Owned Small Businesses

Discover unique businesses owned by members of the Women's Business Centers of Ohio

Feb 8

Neighborhood Initiatives

OH3C, a place-based development program, created real impact in Ohio neighborhoods What happens when you bring together four of Ohio’s...

Dec 2, 2022

Local for the Holidays: ECDI Shopping Guide

There's no place like local for the holidays! It's easy to order from big box stores, but local businesses offer unique, curated...

Sep 28, 2022

How to Find Work-Life Balance as a Female Business Owner

As a female entrepreneur, one of the most critical elements to success is finding a good work-life balance. Unfortunately, this can be...

Aug 16, 2022

Nourishing the Community Through Tasty Treats

"I remember my family dealing with a lot of health issues growing up," said Anique Russell, founder of Too Good Eats, an artisanal...

Aug 15, 2022

Bringing Peruvian Culture to Toledo

To many Americans, when we think of Latin American food, we think Mexican cuisine. However, there are many more styles and flavors,...

Aug 15, 2022

Building a Craft Soda Empire

If you’ve gone into a bar in Columbus and ordered a ginger beer or a Moscow mule, there’s a good chance it came from The Rambling House....

Aug 4, 2022

Celebrating Diversity in Fiber Arts

If you're looking for an art quilt to hang on your wall instead of your bed, Barbara's Fiber Art has you covered. Barbara Huff makes...

Aug 4, 2022

Laying a Foundation For Others

In conventionally male-dominated fields such as construction and engineering, you will not often encounter a 100% minority- and...

Aug 4, 2022

Training the Hospitality Stars of the Future

On the 16th floor of the Franklin County Municipal Court sits Café Overlook, a restaurant-to-be with a great view of Columbus’ skyline....

Aug 4, 2022

The Barber College for Everybody

When Rodney Dennis opened Levels Barber College in 2020, he wanted it to be more than a business, but a benevolent force in the...

Aug 4, 2022

Nerds, Learners, Movie Lovers – All Are Welcome

“When I say I’ve got people who come in and we talk for hours, that’s not an exaggeration,” Krazzy Comics proprietor Allen Harrington...

Aug 4, 2022

Serving – and Caffeinating – a Community

If you are in Frankfort, Ohio and would like to meet a friend for coffee, there is only one place in town: Deeply Rooted Café. When...

Aug 4, 2022

Helping Young Learners Cope

There are only so many generations of people who have lived through a pandemic, and even fewer who grew up in one. Young adults are...

Aug 4, 2022

Kids and Great Businesses: They Grow so Fast.

“My daughter attends [Little Arrows Childcare Center] and we love it! I enjoy getting pictures of her activities and interactions with...

Aug 4, 2022

Wine, Music, and Inspiration

After falling in love with the music scene in Washington D.C., Tammie Scott was inspired to open a wine and jazz lounge that encompassed...

Jul 28, 2022

Celebrate Black Business Month by Supporting These Black-Owned Businesses

It's vital to be both a social and economic ally. Buying from Black-owned stores and brands is one of the many ways to be an ally and...

May 31, 2022

10 Must-Eat Spots To Visit This Summer

What better way to kick off the summer than sitting on a patio with a refreshing beverage and mouth-watering food? Whether you're meeting...

Feb 24, 2022

ECDI is the First CDFI in Ohio to Receive Finance Justice Fund

Loan fund to help advance social, economic, and racial justice in communities experiencing poverty and disinvestment Columbus, OH...

Feb 11, 2022

Podcasts Every Black Woman Entrepreneur Needs In Her Rotation

If you’ve been wanting to expand your podcast game, here’s your chance. As an entrepreneur, it’s important to surround yourself with...

Feb 3, 2022

Valentine’s Day Gifts From Small Businesses

We have rounded up great local gift ideas to help you support local this Valentine’s Day! Whether you're looking to treat your...

Jan 31, 2022

ECDI Receives $865,000 Grant From Wells Fargo “Open For Business” Fund

Contribution to ECDI will provide support statewide and help get small businesses back to growth Columbus, OH (January 31, 2022) - Wells...

Jan 14, 2022

Fonda Williams To Head ECDI’s Government Relations Efforts

Canton Deputy Mayor leaves office to focus on supporting minority- and woman-owned small businesses (COLUMBUS, OH) – ECDI has named Fonda...

Nov 23, 2021

Ohio Small Business Gift Guide

Think local this holiday season! Make it a December to remember. Shopping small keeps your money in our local economy to help make our...

Nov 5, 2021

The Heart of Stylish LéNese

Shawnte Barker’s mother thought it was silly that her 8-year-old daughter asked for a sewing machine for her birthday. Little did she...

Nov 5, 2021

It's Never Too Late to Get On Trac

On Trac is more than an industrial and private cleaning company. It provides second chances to folks who need stability, support and life...

Nov 5, 2021

Crafting Buildings and the Community’s Future

As you exit the Kroger on Court Street in downtown Cincinnati, you’ll be greeted by a rainbow of historic buildings across the street....

Nov 5, 2021

Seigo, Chef and Entrepreneur at Heart

Growing up in Tokyo, Japan, Seigo Nishimura had a love for ramen and the unique ramen flavors from his hometown. A chef and entrepreneur...

Nov 5, 2021

Connecting to Community through Art

The Canton Museum of Art has been an institution in Canton since its founding in 1935. They're a smaller art museum compared to their...

Nov 5, 2021

Grit, Grind and Gain

Chris Laffartha, owner of ChrisFit Cross Training, can summarize business, life and exercise in three words: Grit, Grind and Gain. Grit...

Nov 5, 2021

From Banker to Collector to Entrepreneur

“I never knew how much my banking experience was going to come in handy when owning a business,” said Jameson Reeves, who spent a dozen...

Nov 5, 2021

Hot Chicken with a Mission

Hot Chicken Takeover is a local culinary staple. And yet for much of his career, owner Joe DeLoss wasn’t thinking about chicken. His...

Nov 5, 2021

A Cleveland Child Enrichment Center

After 35 years working in childcare centers, Michelle Madison was prepared to lead her own. She signed the lease for the future home of...

Nov 5, 2021

Entrepreneur's Lifelong Love of Construction Industry

For Denise Ransom, construction runs in the family. Her dad, Leon Ransom, was the first African American architect in Columbus to work on...

Nov 5, 2021

From the Little Guy to Creative Executive

“As your business grows, you want bigger projects and bigger clients. But once you’re at that higher level, it’s easy to forget about...

Nov 5, 2021

A Healthy Dose of Heat

The name “Killik” is a palindrome. Like “racecar” or “kayak,” it’s a word that is the same when read backwards as it is when read...

Aug 11, 2021

Moving Your Small Business Forward During the COVID-19 Pandemic

If you’ve been struggling to run your small business throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re probably excited about the ongoing...

Jul 22, 2021

10 Fantastically Free Tools for Your Small Business

Check out this list of free tools and applications that every small business owner should know about.

Jun 16, 2021

5 Columbus Area Food Spots for Father’s Day!

Spoil your dad this Father's Day with a delicious meal from a local restaurant. Here are some members of ECDI's Food Fort in Columbus, Ohio

May 14, 2021

ECDI Announces Program Director Of New Women's Business Center Of Central Appalachia

Kelly O’Bryant Leads Charge in Providing Training, Assistance and Loan Capital to Women-Owned Small Businesses in Central Appalachia Region

Apr 30, 2021

Netflix and Chill Finds: Black Women Entrepreneurs

Have you run out of new shows to watch during your hibernation? We found some amazing films featuring Black Women Entrepreneurs perfect...

Apr 2, 2021

The Third Way of Looking at a Pandemic

We want to create a safe space to share opinions and encourage neighborly discourse, in a time when folks' opinions can be very polarized.

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ECDI Blog

Small Business Tips, News and More