Project Read

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

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

• Small business development
• Community development
• Business coaching services
• Real estate development
• Economic development

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus Junction

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• CENTER OF ENTREPRENUERIAL DEVELOPMENT (Columbus COED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColumbus 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOAACC 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 STATEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio 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 TRUSTminorOthersCooper's Trust appears as a listed partner organization supporting CEC's economic development initiatives.
• URBAN TRENDSETTERSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUrban Trendsetters is listed as a partner organization in CEC's network of business support service providers.
• WARHOL & WALL STREETminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWarhol & Wall Street is listed as a partner organization contributing to CEC's ecosystem of business support.
• COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEC was instrumental in the COTA Near East Transit Center project, a key infrastructure development that supports transportation access in central Ohio communities.
• Salvation ArmymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEC contributed to the Salvation Army's regional headquarters project, supporting community services in central Ohio.
• Central Community HousemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEC supported Central Community House's new headquarters and daycare facility, contributing to community infrastructure development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbus-compact-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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