About ECDI

The Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit economic development organization located in Columbus, Ohio. Its mission is to invest in people to create measurable and enduring social and economic change. Since its inception in 2004, ECDI’s programs and services have grown into a comprehensive suite of programming designed to lead low-income Ohioans out of poverty. Program participants are given the training, tools, and assistance they need to earn living wage incomes in the short term and purchase and maintain assets for the future.

The programs it offers include foundational financial literacy training, innovative microenterprise development training and capitalization programs, business incubation services which provide microenterprise clients access to jobs and markets, educational access grants, downpayment assistance to first time homebuyers and home repair programs for senior citizens and disabled individuals.

These programs and services have been proven to create jobs, increase access to assets, and spur local economic development. ECDI programs and services form a comprehensive anti-poverty initiative, which provides at-risk communities access to banking services and financial opportunities, bringing traditionally unbanked populations into the economic mainstream.