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...
ECDI Blog
Small Business Tips, News and More
- 4 days ago
Laying a foundation for others
In conventionally male-dominated fields such as construction and engineering, you will not often encounter a 100% minority- and...
- 4 days ago
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....
- 4 days ago
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...
- 4 days ago
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...
- 4 days ago
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...
- 4 days ago
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...
- 4 days ago
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...
- 4 days ago
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
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
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
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
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
Valentine’s Day Gifts From Small Businesses
We have rounded up some great local gift ideas to help you support local this Valentine’s Day! Whether you're looking to treat your...
- Jan 31
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
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
Killik Hot Sauce Co.
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
As a small business owner, you’re wearing every hat. From marketing to finance and everything in between, there are hundreds of tasks to...
- 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,...
- 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.
- Mar 29, 2021
ECDI to Open SBA-Supported Women's Business Center in Partnership with Shawnee State University
New Women’s Business Center of Central Appalachia Will Provide Training, Assistance and Loan Capital to Women-Owned Small Businesses...
- Mar 8, 2021
ECDI Client Interview: David Brooks
Join ECDI President & Owner of Dave's Artisanal Cheesecakes, as they discuss David's entrepreneur journey and how ECDI has played a role.
- Feb 8, 2021
Valentine's Day Local Gift Guide
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! Whether that fact makes you grin or groan, there’s no doubt that, after the year we just...
- Nov 23, 2020
NEWS RELEASE: ECDI, WBC and Clients Win Big at 2020 SBA National Small Business Week Awards
COLUMBUS – The Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI), Women’s Business Center of Central Ohio (WBC) and ECDI clients won...
- Nov 23, 2020
MBE, WBE and EDGE Programs - what you need to know
In the pre-COVID economy, women and minority entrepreneurs, by and large, enjoyed less access to business capital and opportunities than...
- Jul 14, 2020
ECDI's COVID Response: A Lifeline for Small Businesses
The organization scaled to reach 300% of capacity in three months. People of color were 70% of entrepreneurs served and 51% were women.