Project Read
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersColumbus Junction, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Project Read firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Project Read
- Legal name
- Columbus Empowerment Corporation
- Website
- https://columbusempowerment.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Project Read industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment (BPAGABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)
Keywords
Where Project Read is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus Junction
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Project Read business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Columbus Empowerment Corporation operates primarily through charitable donations and grant funding to support economic development programs and small business assistance services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Project Read product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Columbus Empowerment Corporation is a non-profit community development corporation that provides individualized business development services, technical assistance, coaching, training, and loan/grant facilitation to small business owners in Central Ohio. It also collaborates with builders on real estate rehabilitation and historic preservation projects to support neighborhood revitalization. Services are offered free of charge and delivered through one-on-one sessions, cohort programs, monthly networking forums, and partner referrals.
Product overview
Columbus Empowerment Corporation (CEC) is a non-profit community development organization established in 1995, operating as a 501(c)(3) entity. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of economic development services centered on small business support. Its core offerings include Business Development Services for strategy and growth planning, Real Estate Development for property renovation, the Central City Developers Group monthly networking forum, Business Discovery sessions with coaching, Technical Assistance and Training programs, and Loan and Grant Facilitation services. The Accelerate Columbus program targets specific industries. These services collectively support entrepreneurs through education, coaching, and network connections to foster business growth and community revitalization in Central Ohio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Business Development Services Provides individualized development and execution of growth strategies and training for operations, financing, marketing, and sales management to small business owners in Central Ohio.
- Real Estate Development Collaborates with builders to renovate structures, combat deterioration, and boost the economy in Central Ohio through property rehabilitation and historic preservation projects.
- Central City Developers Group (CCDG) A monthly forum for networking and sharing best practices and project development, providing information on government and private sector programming, financing, and legal/regulatory data to assist small business capacity building for real estate developers and investors in central Ohio.
- Business Discovery Sessions A 30-minute to 1-hour session to identify business needs, offering expert consultation with a Business Development Coach.
- Technical Assistance and Training Provides 1-on-1 technical assistance to business owners and training programs in central Ohio.
- Loan and Grant Facilitation Facilitates access to financing including loans and Recovery Fund Grants for qualifying small business owners in central Ohio.
- Accelerate Columbus Cohort Program Cohort-based business development program focused on apparel and food industry entrepreneurs in Central Ohio.
Quantifiable outcome
- Provided 1-on-1 technical assistance to 714 Business Owners
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Project Read
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Project Read technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Project Read partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- CENTER OF ENTREPRENUERIAL DEVELOPMENT (Columbus COED)coreColumbus COED is restoring the 34,000 square feet multiplex office/warehouse building at 1890 E. Main Street where CEC resides. The complex redesign supports entrepreneurs at every stage of development, directly fulfilling CEC's mission of economic development through asset creation.
- CENTRAL OHIO AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (COAACC)coreCOAACC is a key partner in providing business support services and networking opportunities for African American entrepreneurs in central Ohio, aligning with CEC's mission to support small business growth and community revitalization.
- OHIO SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT COLUMBUS STATEcoreOhio SBDC at Columbus State provides additional resources and expertise for small business development, complementing CEC's programs with government-backed small business support services.
- COOPER'S TRUSTminorCooper's Trust appears as a listed partner organization supporting CEC's economic development initiatives.
- URBAN TRENDSETTERSminorUrban Trendsetters is listed as a partner organization in CEC's network of business support service providers.
- WARHOL & WALL STREETminorWarhol & Wall Street is listed as a partner organization contributing to CEC's ecosystem of business support.
- COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority)majorCEC was instrumental in the COTA Near East Transit Center project, a key infrastructure development that supports transportation access in central Ohio communities.
- Salvation ArmymajorCEC contributed to the Salvation Army's regional headquarters project, supporting community services in central Ohio.
- Central Community HousemajorCEC supported Central Community House's new headquarters and daycare facility, contributing to community infrastructure development.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Project Read competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SCORE: Nonprofit network providing free business mentoring, training, and resources to small business owners. Closely parallels CEC's individualized coaching, training programs, and Business Discovery model, but operates nationally via volunteer mentors.
- Grameen America: Nonprofit microfinance organization providing small loans, financial education, and peer support to women entrepreneurs in underserved U.S. communities. Comparable mission of asset-building for marginalized business owners, though product set is more narrow.
- Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Free business education and capital access program for small businesses, with cohort-based delivery similar to CEC's Accelerate Columbus program. Serves underserved entrepreneurs with comparable intensive coaching and network support.
- ICIC (Initiative for a Competitive Inner City): National nonprofit focused on business development and job creation in under-resourced urban communities. Closely aligned with CEC's mission of inner-city economic development, small business support, and neighborhood revitalization strategy.
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): Federally-funded network providing no-cost business consulting, training, and capital access support. CEC's Ohio SBDC at Columbus State partnership shows direct overlap on core services, though SBDCs are government-backed and serve broader geographies.
- Accion (now Newity): Mission-driven small business lender and resource provider targeting underserved entrepreneurs. Close functional parallel to CEC's loan and grant facilitation plus coaching portfolio, with similar focus on equity-gap borrowers.
- Kiva (Kiva Microfunds): Nonprofit crowdfunding platform offering 0% interest loans to underserved entrepreneurs. Comparable to CEC's loan facilitation role for businesses facing equity gaps in traditional lending, though Kiva operates digitally and globally.
Broad incumbents
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development corporation supporting small businesses, real estate, and neighborhood revitalization. Like CEC, LISC combines capital deployment with technical assistance for underserved entrepreneurs, but operates at significantly greater scale across the U.S.
- Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): National network of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Comparable to CEC's loan facilitation function, particularly for equity-gap borrowers, but operates as an industry umbrella rather than a direct service provider.
Others
- National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP): Professional association for community development extension professionals working on community-based economic development. Functionally adjacent to CEC's mission of community economic development, though focuses on capacity-building for practitioners rather than direct small business services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Project Read social profiles
Digital presenceProject Read financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Project Read leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Project Read funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Project Read M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Project Read
What does Project Read do?
Columbus Empowerment Corporation is a non-profit community development corporation that provides individualized business development services, technical assistance, coaching, training, and loan/grant facilitation to small business owners in Central Ohio. It also collaborates with builders on real estate rehabilitation and historic preservation projects to support neighborhood revitalization. Services are offered free of charge and delivered through one-on-one sessions, cohort programs, monthly networking forums, and partner referrals.
Is Project Read a public or private company?
Project Read is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Project Read founded?
Project Read was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Project Read based?
Project Read is headquartered in Columbus Junction, United States, in the North America region.
How does Project Read make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are Project Read's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SCORE, Grameen America, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, ICIC (Initiative for a Competitive Inner City), Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), Accion (now Newity) and Kiva (Kiva Microfunds). Broad incumbents are Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Opportunity Finance Network (OFN). National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) is listed as an others.
Does Project Read have an API?
No public API is recorded for Project Read.
What industry is Project Read in?
Project Read's product category is Community Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAA, Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAL, Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services. Its NAICS code is 813410 and its SIC code is 8300.