According to the US Commerce Department, small businesses create most of the jobs in the America. But small businesses need money to get off the ground. A non-profit group from Columbus that lends money to start up micro-businesses wants to open an office in Toledo.
Local small business owners like Stacey Turner see the benefit of financial help.
Stacey owns a little flower shop on LaGrange she calls "Blessed Blossoms." She has 2-part timers working for here and about a thousand customers. She says, "We service a lot of different funeral homes, credit unions, schools."
To get started, Stacey needed help putting together a business plan and she needed money. Fortunately, banks were lending. Stacey tells 13abc reporter Bill Hormann, "We were able to get a loan. I think compared to now, it would be next to impossible to get what we got 12 years ago."
Banks are not lending to people like Stacey anymore.
"We believe in capitalism and small business development."
So enter a group called the Economic and Community Development Institute.
ECDI loans money to *micro-business owners* like Stacey who have five or fewer employees.
Inna Kinney, CEO of the non-profit says, "There are people that have experience a lot of good talent but, because of the economy, they are getting displaced and this is the perfect time for somebody to go into business."
Over the last eight-years, ECDI has funded 2,000 micro-businesses that have created 4,000 jobs in Cleveland and Columbus.The Bell Administration and city council believe the group can seed start ups in Toledo. Councilman Rob Ludeman (R-Toledo) says that will help the local economy. Ludeman told 13abc, "The mainstay of our economy is small business. The more that we can generate here in Toledo we might attract larger business that will follow."
But it's the dream of many people to start small.
Stacey started small but she could use another $20,000 to expand her flower shop.
But she knows it takes more than money... to be a success. Stacey says, "I don't know what from day to day if I didn't have my heart and my faith in it, I wouldn't have made it."
Toledo hopes ECDI can help other business owners like Stacey make it.
Ironically, ECDI needs $250,000 to open its Toledo office and council seems willing to give the effort $125,000 from a community block grant.
Local economic development agencies would give the rest.
If council approves, small business could start getting seed money through ECDI by February.
Friday, May 17 2013 11:12 PM EDT2013-05-18 03:12:55 GMT
$600 million dollars is up for grabs in Saturday's big Powerball drawing. It's the highest Powerball jackpot in U.S. history, and most expect it'll get even bigger by Saturday night.
$600 million dollars is up for grabs in Saturday's big Powerball drawing. It's the highest Powerball jackpot in U.S. history, and most expect it'll get even bigger by Saturday night.
Friday, May 17 2013 11:06 PM EDT2013-05-18 03:06:39 GMT
The woman charged with shaking and injuring her infant son was back in court Friday, and angry protestors were there to greet her. Residents gathered outside the Wood County Common Pleas Court wearing
The woman charged with shaking and injuring her infant son was back in court Friday, and angry protestors were there to greet her.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:41 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:41:33 GMT
Star 105 gave away 500 gallons of free gas Friday. Cars lined up at the Valero station on Holland-Sylvania. If you missed out on the giveaway, you'll have some more chances to get some free gas. Just
Star 105 gave away 500 gallons of free gas Friday. Cars lined up at the Valero station on Holland-Sylvania.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:36 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:36:58 GMT
An Adrian man, who appeared in federal court wearing a wig and women's clothing, is charged with having hundreds of pictures of child pornography. The case has many asking: Where were the pictures taken,
An Adrian man who appeared in federal court wearing a wig and women's clothing, is charged with having hundreds of pictures of child pornography. The case has many asking: Were any local children put at risk?
Friday, May 17 2013 6:08 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:08:13 GMT
A huge milestone at the Toledo Assembly Complex. The current Wrangler plant opened in 2006 and on Friday, the one millionth Jeep Wrangler JK rolled off the line. There were a lot of smiles, but workers
A huge milestone at the Toledo Assembly Complex. The current Wrangler plant opened in 2006 and on Friday, the one millionth Jeep Wrangler JK rolled off the line.
Friday, May 17 2013 8:35 PM EDT2013-05-18 00:35:27 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio has cleared an initial step to get before voters. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine certified a summary
A proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio has cleared an initial step to get before voters.
Friday, May 17 2013 3:18 PM EDT2013-05-17 19:18:22 GMT
AKRON, Ohio (AP) - The University of Akron says an officer fatally shot a 64-year-old man during a traffic stop after he produced what later was determined to be a BB pistol. The Summit County Medical
The University of Akron says an officer fatally shot a 64-year-old man during a traffic stop after he produced what later was determined to be a BB pistol.
Officials in Akron say the city's website and internal systems have been hacked - and names, Social Security numbers and credit card numbers were compromised.
Officials in Akron say the city's website and internal systems have been hacked - and names, Social Security numbers and credit card numbers were compromised.
Thursday, May 16 2013 10:44 PM EDT2013-05-17 02:44:10 GMT
A Detroit business is under federal investigation for allegedly paying workers with crack cocaine. It's called Big C's Tire Shop on Mac Avenue in Detroit, and word on the street was the "C" stood for crack
A Detroit business is under federal investigation for allegedly paying workers with crack cocaine.
Friday, May 17 2013 11:12 PM EDT2013-05-18 03:12:55 GMT
$600 million dollars is up for grabs in Saturday's big Powerball drawing. It's the highest Powerball jackpot in U.S. history, and most expect it'll get even bigger by Saturday night.
$600 million dollars is up for grabs in Saturday's big Powerball drawing. It's the highest Powerball jackpot in U.S. history, and most expect it'll get even bigger by Saturday night.
Friday, May 17 2013 11:06 PM EDT2013-05-18 03:06:39 GMT
The woman charged with shaking and injuring her infant son was back in court Friday, and angry protestors were there to greet her. Residents gathered outside the Wood County Common Pleas Court wearing
The woman charged with shaking and injuring her infant son was back in court Friday, and angry protestors were there to greet her.
Friday, May 17 2013 9:57 PM EDT2013-05-18 01:57:13 GMT
Leaders at Lucas County Children Services say the need for foster and adoptive parents across the region is great. The agency is responding to community demand by adding more information and training
Leaders at Lucas County Children Services say the need for foster and adoptive parents across the region is great. The agency is responding to community demand by adding more information and training classes for people interested in fostering or adopting.
Friday, May 17 2013 8:35 PM EDT2013-05-18 00:35:27 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio has cleared an initial step to get before voters. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine certified a summary
A proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana in Ohio has cleared an initial step to get before voters.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:36 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:36:58 GMT
An Adrian man, who appeared in federal court wearing a wig and women's clothing, is charged with having hundreds of pictures of child pornography. The case has many asking: Where were the pictures taken,
An Adrian man who appeared in federal court wearing a wig and women's clothing, is charged with having hundreds of pictures of child pornography. The case has many asking: Were any local children put at risk?
Friday, May 17 2013 6:06 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:06:53 GMT
An 11 week old baby was stabbed to death in Sandusky Thursday night. Police say the suspect is the newborn's 19-year-old cousin. The community is in shock. Residents say they're sick to their stomachs
An 11-week-old baby was stabbed to death in Sandusky Thursday night. Sandusky Police say the suspect is the newborn's 19-year-old cousin Denzel Castile.
Friday, May 17 2013 5:14 PM EDT2013-05-17 21:14:50 GMT
An Ottawa County Judge has decided to reinstate Terry Camp Kruse Drivers license. She is the repeat DUI offender who killed 14 year old Ronnie Miller in 1993. Kruse served a 10-year prison sentence for
An Ottawa County judge reinstated the driver's license for Terry Camp Kruse. She is a repeat DUI offender who admitted to hitting and killing a 14-year-old while driving drunk in 1993.
Friday, May 17 2013 4:59 PM EDT2013-05-17 20:59:24 GMT
A South Toledo man appeared at Lucas County Municipal Court Friday on two misdemeanors. It all started Wednesday night when the man repeated called 9-1-1 because a neighbor's dog was barking. Timothy
Timothy Henneman was arrested for improper use of emergency services and disorderly conduct. It all started Wednesday night when the man repeated called 9-1-1 because a neighbor's dog was barking.
Friday, May 17 2013 8:37 PM EDT2013-05-18 00:37:34 GMT
In workplaces across the nation, Americans are inviting their colleagues to chip in $2 for a Powerball ticket and a shared daydream. The office lottery pool is a way to improve your odds and have a little
In workplaces across the nation, Americans are inviting their colleagues to chip in $2 for a Powerball ticket and a shared daydream. The office lottery pool is a way to improve your odds and have a little fun with co-workers.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:41 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:41:33 GMT
Star 105 gave away 500 gallons of free gas Friday. Cars lined up at the Valero station on Holland-Sylvania. If you missed out on the giveaway, you'll have some more chances to get some free gas. Just
Star 105 gave away 500 gallons of free gas Friday. Cars lined up at the Valero station on Holland-Sylvania.
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