ECDI Blog

Small Business Tips, News and More

Sep 22

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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