Nicole Perrin-Hill’s ambition of owning a beauty institute took root in childhood. “I’ve always had a passion for the beauty industry,” says Perrin-Hill. “Ever since I was a little girl, I would take my dolls and give them all a different hairstyle. My dad was a barber stylist and I would see how he would style my [...]

Jim Pashovich of Grove City had operated a small food cart in the ’80s and ’90s, but the industry became too unpredictable and he could not see any opportunities for growth. He went into real estate, but eventually found himself lured back by the excitement  and versatility of mobile food. Pashovich liked that trucks are more weather-resistant, [...]

This has been a banner year for Carla Saunders, owner of Columbus, Ohio’s only gourmet cupcake truck. She worked at her mother’s brick-and-mortar bakery in her hometown of Grove City for many years, creating famous delicacies such as carrot cake cupcakes and red velvet cupcakes. 3 Babes and a Baker definitely had the potential to expand [...]

Columbus native Nicholas Gonzalez wore many hats throughout his long career, from taxi driver, to restaurant manager, and finally retiring as an insurance underwriter. After losing his wife to cancer in 2004, he found himself pursuing a very different passion: painting. His love of creating art soon developed into a dream to open a gallery. “I [...]

Planning a festive event can leave one inundated with details and choices. From hors d’oeuvres to centerpieces, linens to bouquets, many planners can feel overwhelmed by all the moving parts involved in pulling off such a complex feat. Regina Prange and Brooke Kinsey were no strangers to the trials and triumphs of event planning when their [...]

Four years ago, Hayley Savage left her high-powered corporate career to turn her lifelong love of art into a business. While rising up the ranks in her business life, Savage spent decades collecting brilliant art. She was proud to support local artists, building an enviable gallery of contemporary masterpieces for her personal collection. She brought [...]

Vicki Hink honed her cooking talent behind the line of many of Columbus’s most prestigious eateries, always quickly rising through the ranks. While she knew that someday she wanted to open her own restaurant, a vacant storefront spotted on Oak Street in her adopted neighborhood of Olde Towne East had too much potential to ignore. Gathered [...]

The Motamedi family has developed their business over the last five years with the same conscientious attention to detail paid to their diverse portfolio of home remodeling and renovation projects. A true family business, siblings Ben, Bruce, and Golnaz Motamedi make up the Reliance Remodeling team. They have been improving the appearance and form of Central [...]

In building happy families and healthy relationships, Cheryl Bassitt has some words of wisdom for you: don’t shoot the duck. What she means is no idea should be rejected or dismissed and everyone has something meaningful to offer their household, marriage, or workplace if others can be receptive to listening to them. This policy of allowing [...]

The Economic and Community Development Institute is proud to help realize the dream of small business ownership for Central Ohioans. While our portfolio is rich with brick-and-mortar storefronts that light up Ohio streets, we also fund many businesses that are less visible to the average consumer. ECDI has financed many entrepreneurs in the trucking industry over [...]

The Columbus-based Economic and Community Development Institute is celebrating seven years of investing locally in innovative entrepreneurs to create sustainable economic and social change. Since 2004, the organization has helped to create 2,000 businesses and 4,000 jobs with its small business development programs, including its small business loan program. In this series, we will be introducing [...]