Chris Crader, owner of Harvest Pizzeria, is giving back to the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) this week by donating a portion of his restaurant’s proceeds to the nonprofit organization. Crader credits ECDI with helping him open his first restaurant in 2012, stating that without their support, he wouldn’t be where he is today.
As part of Small Business Week, Crader is giving back to the agency that helped him by donating some of his restaurant’s income from takeout pizza sales to ECDI. The nonprofit institute has provided over $177 million in loans since its inception in 2004 and has assisted more than 32,000 entrepreneurs through its educational programs.
When Crader and his wife were unable to secure loans from commercial banks for Harvest Pizzeria, they turned to ECDI for help. With the institute’s support, they received a $75,000 loan through federal programs aimed at helping women and U.S. military veterans, as well as valuable business-coaching services.
Today, Harvest Pizzeria has multiple locations in Bexley, the Brewery District, Clintonville, Dublin, and Granville. Crader’s decision to give back to ECDI during Small Business Week is a way for him to support the agency in assisting other entrepreneurs like himself who may need financial assistance and guidance to achieve their business goals.
ECDI is based in Columbus and is the largest Small Business Administration microlender in the nation. The nonprofit institute provides loans ranging from $500 to $500 thousand and also offers training programs aimed at helping entrepreneurs develop business plans and acquire new skills.
Crader believes that ECDI played a crucial role in his success as an entrepreneur and wants to give back by supporting other small businesses that may need financial assistance or guidance.
“ECDI was instrumental in helping us get our business off the ground,” said Crader. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”
Crader hopes that his donation will inspire others to give back to organizations like ECDI that provide critical resources and support for small businesses across the country.
ECDI has been providing financial assistance and training programs for entrepreneurs since its inception in 2004. Today, it has become an essential resource for small businesses looking to grow their operations while staying afloat during challenging economic times.
Crader’s donation is just one example of how small business owners can give back while also supporting their communities by investing in organizations like ECDI that provide critical resources for entrepreneurs like themselves.