Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI)

Since its founding in 1825 on the banks of the Little Cuyahoga River, Akron - The City at the Summit, The Rubber Capital of the World, The City of Invention - has been home to generations of entrepreneurs and businesspeople who built Northeast Ohio from wilderness to a hub of commerce and creativity. From tires to fishing lures, Quaker Oats to FirstEnergy, Akron has been and continues to be a center of innovation. With that foundation, ECDI has opened its Akron office in the historic Andrew Jackson House in the city's University Park neighborhood, overlooking the University of Akron's campus.

By bringing training and technical assistance, and loan capital to new and existing entrepreneurs in Summit County, ECDI Akron will begin to bridge the financing gap that exists. By including training and small business loans, ECDI and its partners will be able to reach new and aspiring entrepreneurs who need focused, intensive training and one-on-one support to get their business off the ground. Existing businesses, who have a track record of business success and stability, but are unable to access traditional financing because of economic conditions and a lack of bank credit will also benefit from ECDI's services. 

The Women's Business Center of Ohio, powered by ECDI, is the only U.S. Small Business Administration-funded Women’s Business Center in the state. Click here to become a member.

For more information, contact Chris Faircloth, ECDI Akron Lending Manager today at cfaircloth@ecdi.org