|
|
|
|
The Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) has been serving female entrepreneurs in Central Ohio since 2004. As an extension of its comprehensive Microenterprise Development Program, ECDI caters to the unique needs of female entrepreneurs in starting or growing a small business. The goal is to provide one-on-one support to new and existing women-owned small business with a focus on developing long-term, sustainable enterprises. Customers who seek assistance have access to a counselor that will address their individual needs through tailored educational opportunities, business plan assistance, linkages to financing entities, linkages to certification organizations, linkages to procurement opportunities, linkages to legal support, networking/mentoring opportunities and seminars. Many of these services are provided by the host organization, ECDI.
Core services of the Women’s Business Center naturally extend from the core services of ECDI’s existing Microenterprise Development Program. These services would include: · Financial literacy and microenterprise development training · Workshops that address specific small-business related issues · One-on-one technical assistance · Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) grants for microenterprise capitalization · Business legal consultation services · Networking events · Discussion forums · And referrals to business-related services and partners ECDI’s experience and ethnically diverse staff with multilingual capabilities are essential in reducing barriers faced by female entrepreneurs. Somali, Spanish, Arabic, Amharic, Portuguese, Russian, and Polish interpreters are available daily at ECDI’s central office. In addition, ECDI’s Westside office is located in a mainly Hispanic neighborhood. The WBC will staff the Westside office at least one evening during the week and on Saturday afternoons to accommodate those with busy schedules.
Please contact the ECDI Community Development Department for more information.
|
|
|
