ECDI Blog

On any given weekend, you can find Brent Cochran with his head in the clouds. “What you can do with drones is only limited by your imagination,” he shared. “I feel like Superman, but my feet stay on the ground.”

For Te'Aira Mallory of Foundations Total Care in Union, OH. When sitting down for a job interview with Te’Aira Mallory, your years of experience aren't her top priority. What she’s looking for is something far more innate and harder to teach: genuine compassion...

When SBA Regional Administrator Everett M. Woodel, Jr. selected our small rural center as the spotlight location for Small Business Saturday, we were honored and excited. This was our chance to shine a light on the talented entrepreneurs who make our Appalachian communities so special. From left: Thalia Amador Lastra, Economic Development Specialist; Kelly Gordon, Director of the WBC of Central Appalachia ; Terry Bolden, District Director of the Cleveland/Columbus District

Discover unique, meaningful gifts from Ohio small businesses. Explore ECDI’s 2025 Holiday Gift Guide and shop local to support entrepreneurs in your community.

Click to watch Shawnte's spotlight video. 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 know that Shawnte would follow her dream to New York City to be a fashion designer, working at major retailers for 15 years. When her company downsized, she decided to move back home to Cincinnati to pursue her dream of opening her own boutique. Stylish LéNese Boutique launched online and once Shawnte

Tetiana Saeed, Owner of Tati Studio in Broadview Heights, OH Tetiana Saeed didn’t expect to start over — not at this stage in her life,...

Ali Hull of Align Massage Therapy in Portsmouth, OH Ali Hull wasn’t sure how Portsmouth would react to Align Massage Therapy. She knew...