ECDI Blog

Small Business Tips, News and More

Aug 26

ECDI to Open SBA-Supported Women's Business Center at Central State University-Dayton

New Women’s Business Center is First to Support an HBCU in Ohio, and Will Provide Training, Assistance and Loan Capital to Women-Owned...

Aug 13

Transforming Passion and Community into Success

Within her first year of teaching fitness classes at a Pure Barre studio when she was 23, Kendra Northgard realized she had found...

Aug 13

Harnessing Experience and Opportunity

Gina Piunno thought she was safe from widespread layoffs at Allstate Insurance in early 2020. When she was laid off despite her 13 years...

Aug 13

Breaking the Blueprint: How Astra Studios is Redefining Architecture for All

“I get a lot of confusion from like pure capitalist business people like, ‘Wait — you want to work with a clientele that doesn’t have...

Aug 13

A Calling to Pioneer Change

To Dr. Constance Longmire, her personal and professional coaching skills are more than just a business endeavor – they’re a gift from...

Aug 13

R.L. Cole Enterprise and a Legacy of Hard Work

“Here in Cleveland, we want to be the premier supplier of aggregate and trucking company and provide our customers with the best possible...

Aug 13

Reflecting on Success with Jean-François Flechet of Taste of Belgium

As ECDI reflects on 20 years of service, we want to celebrate the success of an early client, Jean-François Flechet, founder of Taste of...

Aug 13

Spicing Up Tradition

For some families, a nightly dinner table discussion about engravings from the 1800s, where in India to source the best tamarinds, or the...

Aug 13

Unapologetically Black: A Revolutionary Approach to Healthcare

Village of Healing is unlike any medical organization in Ohio. Dána M Langford, CEO & Medical Director, and Tenisha Gaines, Director of...

Aug 13

How to Build a Blossoming Business

Just Northwest of Portsmouth, Ohio, in Otway, you’ll find fields full of tulips, dahlias and sunflowers. This is KB Flower Farm. Its...

May 29

Black Frog Brewery's Rise from Garage to Greatness

“Any home brewer will tell you that they’ve wondered what it would be like to open a brewery.” Chris Harris, owner of Black Frog...

May 13

Against the Odds: The Vault's Story of Perseverance

"This is gonna sound crazy, but in 1998, at 14 years old, I had this idea for a gaming center,” said Kyle James, co-owner of The Vault,...

May 10

ECDI Provides an Inclusive Experience Online

ECDI now provides an inclusive online experience to enable website visitors to access online content and services barrier-free. As part...

Mar 26

How to Get Your Mobile Food Vendor License in Columbus

Running a food truck or a similar mobile food business is not as simple as setting up shop in a parking lot. There are several steps that...

Jan 30

Unique Valentine’s Day Gifts That Support Small Businesses

Looking for the perfect Valentine's Day gift or date night? Explore our selection from ECDI clients and spread the love to small businesses

Jan 23

Pivot Your Small Business to Greater Success

While it is the framework of your business, your business plan isn't carved in stone. It should be re-examined, amended, or sometimes...

Jan 23

Creative Staffing Solutions for Small Businesses

As a small business owner in an era of staffing shortages, finding good workers quickly is more difficult than ever. You may have to keep...

Jan 23

What’s Stopping you from Starting Your Own Business?

Really, what is it? Does the whole prospect feel overwhelming? Do you not have much money to start a business? Are you unsure your idea...

Nov 13, 2023

Ohio Small Business Gift Guide

Tis the Season to Shop Local With the holiday season approaching, now is the perfect moment to support our amazing small business clients...

Oct 20, 2023

Nurturing a Family Legacy, One Loaf at a Time

“Matija was my great-grandfather — this mythic figure who brought the family over from Slovenia. He had a farm and a general store,...

Oct 19, 2023

Transforming Lives: The Nutter Center's Fight Against Generational Poverty

“If an unwed mother has a female child, that child has a 70% chance of becoming an unwed mother herself,” said Valerie Nutter, Owner of...

Oct 13, 2023

A Unique Kid-Owned Skincare Boutique

Have you ever purchased skincare products from a store owned and operated by three children? No? You’ve got to try Skin District Store, a...

Sep 22, 2023

Energizing Communities Through Tea

“The Kenmore neighborhood in Akron is amazing. It's so beautiful with its wonderful jazz and Caribbean and Latin culture,” said Monaqui...

Sep 21, 2023

Finding Opportunities in Uncertainty

“There's nothing that humbles you like running a company,” Gazelle Mechanical and Logistics Proprietor Trey Ellington said. Although...

Sep 13, 2023

Family, Culture, and Excellence

AJL Group started with an $8,000 contract to fix rain gutters. Only two years later, the Cincinnati-based commercial roofing company...

Sep 13, 2023

A Recipe for Resilience

“I've wanted to own a bakery since I was 12 years old,” said Selena Hunt, proprietor of Flour Girls Baking Company, a Gallipolis, Ohio...

Sep 13, 2023

Craftsmanship and Community

“I’ve always been pretty handy,” said Eric Ray, Owner of Rays Reconditioning, a Massillon, Ohio remodeling company. "I was the guy my mom...

Sep 1, 2023

Discover Latinx-Owned Businesses in Ohio

Whether you're a local or just passing through, this list is your go-to guide for supporting Latinx-owned businesses in the Buckeye State.

Aug 25, 2023

Lessons Learned from Small Business Successes

Explore the wealth of tips and advice shared by our clients, specifically for fellow small business owners like yourself.

Aug 14, 2023

Building Confidence, Control, and a Way of Life

“Karate isn’t about fighting,” said David Anders, Sensei and Owner of Karate Works, A Maumee, Ohio dojo founded in 2016. “It’s an art...

Aug 14, 2023

Design, Dedication, and Community

Hermes Ortiz is not just a drafting engineer and graphic designer — the man is a visualizer. He leaves a physical copy of his business...

Aug 11, 2023

A Rural Gem of High-Quality Finds

Imagine the smell of a fishing bait and tackle shop. If you aren’t detecting notes of gourmet roasted coffee, therapeutic-grade essential...

May 1, 2023

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, 2023

Support Our Community of Women-Owned Small Businesses

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

Feb 8, 2023

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. At ECDI, our clients represent a diverse array of businesses, including restaurants,...

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