Articles By: Douglas Craven

Douglas joined the Economic and Community Development Institute team in April 2012. In his role as Development/Outside Relationship Manager, Douglas works with the President and CEO regarding ECDI’s development strategy, including managing relations, community engagement, and fundraising. Originally from New Jersey, Douglas relocated to Columbus for Masters and Doctoral Programs at The Ohio State University. He can be contacted via email at dcraven@ecdi.org or by phone at 614-732-0572.

Free Rent for a Year

Free Rent for a Year
Starting a business, building a brand and creating a presence in the community is not easy for anyone. For Julie Wilkes, owner of Seven Studios, it is the culmination of years of hard work. Through Kickstart Columbus −a partnership with The Economic & Community Development Institute, Columbus City...
May 23rd, 2013 | ECDI Spotlight | Read More

ECDI loans help entrepreneur launch two growing businesses

ECDI loans help entrepreneur launch two growing businesses
Tim Galakchiev was born in Russia and first came to the United States with his mother in 1998 at the age of 21. Later, his father, Edward, and Tim’s wife and children also immigrated to America. Here they began putting down roots and reuniting with members of the Columbus area Russian Jewish community,...
April 25th, 2013 | ECDI Spotlight | Read More

ECDI, That Food Truck featured on “Nightline”

ECDI, That Food Truck featured on “Nightline”
In 2010, the Economic and Community Development Institute launched the Food Fort− a mobile food cart commissary, commercial kitchen and bakery, and food business incubator. The primary goals of the Food Fort are to help new businesses get off the ground and to provide access to new markets for startup...
March 28th, 2013 | ECDI Spotlight | Read More

Iraqi immigrant building success with the help of ECDI

Iraqi immigrant building success with the help of ECDI
For the past six weeks, the Economic and Community Development Institute has participated in the Huffington Post JobRaising Challenge. This challenge has provided ECDI with a platform to let the nation know how we help small businesses, people and the community. Did you know we have programs that serve...
February 28th, 2013 | ECDI Spotlight | Read More

A Job a Day, a Business a Week

A Job a Day, a Business a Week
“We believe that America’s prosperity must rest upon the broad shoulders of a rising middle class. We know that America thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work, when the wages of honest labor will liberate families from the brink of hardship. We are true to...
January 24th, 2013 | ECDI Spotlight | Read More

Woman-owned businesses thriving at ECDI’s Food Fort

Woman-owned businesses thriving at ECDI’s Food Fort
Bleu & Fig Owner Brooke Kinsey is one of the fabulous female business owners taking advantage of a unique entrepreneurial boost available only in Columbus. The Eddie Grayson Culinary Lab at the Economic and Community Development Institute −a fully licensed kitchen for caterers, bakers, and individual...
December 27th, 2012 | ECDI Spotlight | Read More

Solay Bistro flourishes with ECDI’s help

Solay Bistro flourishes with ECDI’s help
Create a job a day, a business a week. This isn’t another slogan. It is a track record –proven over eight years– of one local non-profit. The Economic and Community Development Institute has created or assisted in maintaining a job a day and a business a week since its creation. Columbus is...
November 29th, 2012 | ECDI Spotlight | Read More