ECDI

The Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI) is a nonprofit organization located at 7000 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. ECDI serves as a one-stop shop for entrepreneurial resources, offering funding, industry mentorship, and various business services to help individuals start or expand their businesses.

Specifically, ECDI provides specialized resources for the food industry, peer and expert mentorship, and memberships to the Food Fort Commercial Commissary in Columbus. The institution also offers workshops, advisors, connections, and small business funding, as well as a supportive community of women entrepreneurs.

ECDI is dedicated to removing barriers for minority-owned commercial construction contractors through coaching, capital, and connections. The institution has had a significant economic impact on Ohio entrepreneurs, as evidenced by an Overall Economic Impact Study conducted by Bill Lafayette, Ph.D.

Testimonials from clients highlight the invaluable support and resources provided by ECDI, including assistance with financial, HR, and legal matters, as well as funding to help businesses navigate challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whether individuals have a business idea they need help developing or an established company looking to expand, ECDI is there to provide training, expert advisors, networking opportunities, ongoing support, and access to funding. The organization's mission is to create lasting social and economic change by supporting small businesses and underbanked communities.

In addition to providing lending services, ECDI offers comprehensive small business development services to help individuals who may be precluded from funding from traditional financial institutions, such as low-moderate income individuals, minorities, women, immigrants, and refugees. ECDI is committed to investing in people to create measurable and enduring social and economic change.