ECDI

Please join us in celebrating Brian Barrett on his promotion to Chief Lending Officer!

Brian is known across ECDI for his incredible work ethic, collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to our mission. Whether he's supporting teams through times of transition, mentoring his staff, or simply being one of the last people in the office to ensure the work gets done, Brian consistently leads by example.

In his new role, Brian will lead ECDI's lending strategy and continue expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs across Ohio.

Congratulations on this well-deserved promotion, Brian! 👏

🚨 Just Added: Communication Strategies for Women Leaders in Manufacturing 🚨

From the production floor to the boardroom, effective communication is key to strong leadership.

Join us to learn how to: ✔️ Handle difficult conversations ✔️ Build accountability ✔️ Communicate across teams ✔️ Lead with confidence

📅 August 11 | 12-1:30 PM

🎟️ Save your seat: https://monkeylink.co/1425e2

Communication Strategies for Women Leaders in Manufacturing Managing Across the Shift Floor: Learn communication strategies to lead confidently from the production floor to the boardroom.

Final Spots Available!🚨

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from local lending professionals and small business experts serving the Greater Cincinnati region, including Catherine Lentz, Director of Lending at ECDI, along with representatives from Miami University Regionals SBDC, Wright-Patt Credit Union, and First Financial Bank.

✅ Funding options available to small businesses
✅ What lenders look for in a loan application
✅ How to determine if your business is loan-ready
✅ Resources available to support your business journey

📍 Miami University Voice of America Learning Center
7847 VOA Park Drive, West Chester Township, OH

📌 Event will be held in Auditorium Room 116

Bring your questions and connect directly with lending and business support professionals during the live Q&A.

🎟️ Register now: https://monkeylink.co/20708e

Congratulations to Samuel Young, ECDI's Employee of the Month! 🎉

Samuel was recognized for exemplifying our core value of Service.

As a Relationship Manager in Columbus, Samuel consistently puts clients' needs first and goes above and beyond to ensure they receive the support and resources they need to succeed. He approaches every client interaction with empathy, professionalism, and genuine care, taking the time to understand each client's unique circumstances and provide thoughtful guidance.

Samuel exemplifies all of ECDI's core values. A top performer, he recently broke an ECDI record by closing 170 loans during the FY 2025-2026 fiscal year! 👏 His dedication, strong work ethic, and commitment to helping entrepreneurs succeed have made a lasting impact on both his clients and the organization.

Thank you, Samuel, for your passion for serving others and your commitment to ECDI's mission. We are grateful for all that you do to support entrepreneurs and strengthen the communities we serve. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! 💙

We're Hiring a Business Advisor in Dayton! 🚨

Do you love working with entrepreneurs and helping small businesses succeed?

ECDI is looking for a Business Advisor to support entrepreneurs through our new Tier 1 Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC) program in the Dayton region.

In this role, you'll provide one-on-one business advising, lead workshops and trainings, connect entrepreneurs to resources and funding opportunities, and help business owners build strong foundations for long-term success.

This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on local entrepreneurs while helping strengthen the Dayton small business community.

📍 Dayton, OH (Hybrid)

Join a team that's passionate about empowering entrepreneurs and creating economic opportunity.

👉 Apply today: ECDI.org/team

Congratulations to Jenny Lane, ECDI's June 2026 Employee of the Month! 💚

Jenny was recognized for exemplifying our core value of Commitment.

As a Grants Officer I, Jenny plays a key role in supporting fundraising efforts, building relationships with partners, and helping identify new opportunities to strengthen ECDI's mission.

Since joining ECDI, Jenny has jumped in with both feet, leading grant applications, taking ownership of major development projects, and collaborating across teams to help move our work forward. Her organization, creativity, positivity, and dedication make her an invaluable member of the ECDI team.

Thank you, Jenny, for your commitment to our mission and the entrepreneurs and communities we serve. We are grateful for all you do! 🌱🎉

What do lenders really look for? 💡 Many entrepreneurs think funding decisions are based solely on credit scores.

In reality, lenders often evaluate:
✅ Business financials
✅ Cash flow
✅ Repayment ability
✅ Business planning
✅ Overall readiness

Want to learn how to strengthen your funding application?

Join Women's Business Centers of Ohio and Miami University Regionals SBDC on August 4 in West Chester, Ohio for a practical workshop focused on understanding the lending process and preparing your business for financing.

🎟️ Register today: https://monkeylink.co/20708e

Demystifying Lending for Small Businesses Get the lowdown on small biz loans and how to score the cash you need to grow your hustle.