Place a bet on yourself.
The L.E.A.N. Fund is a new program to help women like you take the first step to starting or expanding your business. We know the idea of starting a business can be scary, but we’re here to help. By joining the program you’ll receive:
  • One-on-one coaching and mentorship
  • Help writing your business plan
  • Select participants will receive low-interest loans
Applications due by January 8, 2018.
About L.E.A.N. Fund
Lean Cuisine is teaming up with ECDI to launch a new program to support female entrepreneurs looking to start or expand their businesses within Cleveland. The L.E.A.N. Fund will support the livelihood of women who are looking to create health-forward change, which we believe will strengthen our whole community.

The L.E.A.N. Fund offers a full suite of business development courses, including training, one-on-one mentoring, technical assistance, and offsite amenities to up to 30 Cleveland women. Low-interest loans will be awarded to up to three program participants in the spring of 2018 .

The program includes the following, and allows participants to complete a business plan:
  • Orientation
  • Entrepreneurial Readiness Workshops
  • Business Model Canvas Workshops
  • Small Enterprise Education Development (SEED) Training
  • One-On-One Coaching
  • L.E.A.N. Fund Loan Program
  • Membership to the Women's Business Center
ECDI | nliatos@ecdi.org | 216.912.5667 | www.ecdi.org
The Economic & Community Development Institute is a Columbus, Ohio-based 501(c)(3) non-profit economic development organization founded in 2004. As the third largest US SBA intermediary micro-lender and a U.S. Treasury designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), ECDI's mission is to invest in people to create measurable and enduring social and economic change. Since 2004, ECDI has assisted over 10,800 individuals, disbursed over $40 million through over 1,800 loans, and created and retained over 7,100 jobs via our comprehensive suite of programs available through our offices in Columbus, Cleveland, and Akron Ohio. Our programs and services have been supported by over $69 million in federal, state, local and private funds and have proven to spur local economic development. How do we do this? We invest, educate, and innovate with the businesses and people who are inspired and who inspire us.