On Small Business Saturday (Nov. 26), ECDI in partnership with the U.S.
Small Business Administration (SBA), Columbus SCORE, The Small Business Development
Center at Columbus State Community College, and the ECDI Women’s Business Center of
Central Ohio, will launch the Small Business Trail – a digital guide for shoppers and diners
looking to support local this holiday, and throughout the year.
The trail will feature local businesses in neighborhood clusters, beginning with the North Market and Westerville, with other neighborhoods added quarterly. Trail subscribers will receive promotional deals that can be redeemed at participating businesses.
Are you familiar with ECDI? They’re an amazing nonprofit organization, dedicated to assuring underbanked entrepreneurs – regardless of where they came from, where they live, their gender, or their race – have access to funding and business incubation services they need to succeed. Did you know that they’re based in Columbus, but serve small businesses in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Indiana? It’s an incredible organization. They have assisted more than 30,000 individuals, disbursed more than $147 million through more than 6,000 loans, and created and retained more than 16,500 jobs since 2004.
Once you sign up, you will see a collection of local businesses. You’ll learn more about them and who they are, + collect special offers to get out and support them!
“Starting a small business is no easy task,” said SBA Columbus District Director Everett M. Woodel Jr. “Every small business makes our communities better because of the impact they have. They create jobs, provide services and local products, use local vendors, and are truly what make our neighborhoods so unique. We’re happy to shine a light on these important businesses and do what we can do encourage support.”
Additionally, ECDI, the SBA, and partners will visit the first round of participating businesses to show their support and connect with business owners to learn, firsthand, what resources small businesses need in the current market economy. “We are excited to launch the Small Business Trail as a way to celebrate small businesses and make it easier for customers to find them,” said Steve Fireman, ECDI President. “Local entrepreneurs are incredibly important to the local economy. When you patronize small businesses, more of your dollar stays local. We encourage central Ohioans to think small while holiday shopping, and year ‘round. Small is big.” Studies find that for every dollar spent at a small business, 68 percent funnels back into the local community compared to just 13 percent when customers shop at big box or chain businesses. Additionally, an SBA report found small businesses account for 44 percent of U.S.economic activity.
You can sign up for the Small Business Trail, for free: www.smallbusinesstrail.com
Do you own a small business or maybe you’re looking to start one? Whether it’s funding, assistance with expansion, business training, mentorship or help developing your business plan, I highly encourage you to check out the resources that ECDI has available to you. You can start here.
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