Small Business Support
Additional Resources and Support for Women in Business
City of Columbus Citywide Training & Development
Free professional development training for small business owners in Columbus, Ohio with less than 50 employees.
Columbus Metropolitan Library Resource Center
Free research tools and databases for businesses and non-profit organizations. Appointments with a library will assist with understanding the resources and how to access them whether at the library or home.
Columbus Minority Business Assistance Center.
Free technical assistance for minority-owned businesses. Resources include financial readiness, identifying access to capital, contract assistance, bonding programs, and certification.
Dublin Entrepreneur Center
A co-working organization located in Dublin, Ohio providing coworking, collaborative, and meeting space along with workshops and one-on-one coaching for members.
Franklin County Food Business Portal
Connects food businesses and entrepreneurs to the valuable resources and services needed to plan, launch, and grow a business.
Innovate New Albany
A business incubator located in New Albany, Ohio providing office space, meeting rooms, business office hours, and workshops.
WBENC
The largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women entrepreneurs. WBENC offers programming and resources to help women-owned businesses thrive.
Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC)
Provides counseling and training for small business owners on selling to the federal, state, and local governments.
SCORE
A national all volunteer organization funded by the SBA provides free mentoring, workshops, and webinars. Website also has a strong resource library.
Small Business Development Center at Columbus State
Free coaching and support for small businesses including training and one-on-one mentoring on how to develop, launch, and grow.
Women’s Business Center of Central Ohio
Located at ECDI, The WBC provides business mentoring, workshops, co-working space, and funding for women business owners.
Certification
City of Columbus Department of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI)
Provides certification assistance for women and minority business owners.
Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
Provides disadvantaged business enterprise and small business enterprise certification assistance for small businesses interested in doing business with public transportation agencies including ODOT, COTA, CRAA.
WBEC ORV
National organization providing certification for women business owners seeking to do business with corporations and government entities. Provides WBENC and WOSB certifications.
Business Certification: Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) Program
The State of Ohio’s Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) program establishes an annual goal for state agencies, boards and commissions, as well as guidelines for state universities in awarding contracts to certified EDGE businesses. The EDGE program is designed to assist socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in obtaining state government contracts in the following areas: construction, architecture and engineering; professional services; goods and services; and information technology services. (In contrast to the Minority Business Enterprise program, the EDGE program does apply to construction contracts.) The State of Ohio developed the program because it recognizes the need to encourage, nurture, and support the growth of economically and socially disadvantaged businesses to foster their development and increase the number of qualified competitors in the marketplace.
4200 Surface Road
Columbus, Ohio 43228
Phone: 614-466-8380
Fax: 614-728-5628
Website
Business Certification: Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program
The State of Ohio’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) program establishes a 15 percent set-aside procurement goal for state agencies, boards and commissions in awarding contracts to certified MBE businesses. The MBE program is designed to assist minority businesses in obtaining state government contracts for goods and services. (Unlike the Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity program, the MBE program does not apply to construction contracts.) The State of Ohio developed the program because it recognized the need to encourage, nurture and support the growth of minority businesses to foster their development and increase the number of qualified competitors in the marketplace.
4200 Surface Road
Columbus, Ohio 43228
Phone: 614-466-8380
Fax: 614-728-5628
Website
Funding Resources
Chase Bank
Offers more than 4,700 branches, 15,000 ATMs, business and personal banking, and credit card processing.
Economic Community Development Institute (ECDI)
The number one SBA microlender provides microloans for early-stage business owners.
Impressia
A full-service online bank for women. A part of the CNB Banking family provides access to their 51 branches in 4 states.
FC Bank
A local community bank providing personal and business banking services. Strong community partners.
Freedom Equity
A non-profit microlender providing accessible and affordable capital for black and minority businesses within Central Ohio.
Huntington Bank
Large commercial bank providing personal and business banking.
State of Ohio
Provides Microloans up to $45,000 for certified women businesses with 3 years of operations at 0% interest and Women’s Business Enterprise loans up to $500,000 for women businesses with 3 years of operations at 1.5% if certified as a women owned business and 3% for those not certified.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Provides guarantees for small business loans through banking partners on 7a and 504 loan programs. Also provides coaching and support through community partners including Women’s Business Centers, SCORE, and microlending organizations.
Business Tools (Websites, Video, Marketing and More)
Robles Designs
At Robles Designs, we're all about creating killer web designs, branding, and marketing strategies that speak volumes for determined entrepreneurs ready to shake things up in their industries. We're not just about pretty pictures; we're about telling your story in a way that stops people in their tracks and makes them say, "Whoa, I need to know more!" So, what are you waiting for? Let's make magic happen!
Video Story Studio
We turn your brand message into video content that converts — without blowing your budget.
Kindred Strategy
Kindred Strategy is a paid advertising and social media agency located in Dublin, Ohio. We help our clients increase awareness and generate leads through paid advertising and social media strategies that are built around engaging your customer at the time and place that they are most likely to pay attention.
Bunker Labs
A 501(c)(3) non-profit is a national organization dedicated to supporting veteran and military spouses with their entrepreneurial journey.
Rev1 Ventures
The public-private partnership whose mission is to accelerate the advancement of Central Ohio's innovation economy.
Telephone: (614) 487-3700
Address: 1275 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212
Website
Women Educating Women
The purpose of Women Educating Women is to provide workforce education grant dollars to micro-enterprises owned and operated by women. The dollars are to be used to upgrade business operation skills such as learning a bookkeeping software; setting up a website, learning the ropes of internet and social media marketing; getting a certification in their industry and much more.
Telephone: (614) 837-8370
Website
National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
A national organization that represents the interests of all women entrepreneurs across all industries and sizes. NAWBO is a one-stop resource to propel women business owners into greater economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide. (WSBA Partner Organization)