Resources

Businesses like yours make the move to Downtown Cleveland to better recruit and retain a skilled, energetic and loyal workforce. In the quest for talent, navigating real estate and economic development processes can be challenging. Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s Business Development Center can connect your enterprise with the resources it needs to close the gap and make the office you want a reality.

START-UPS AND SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES

Downtown Cleveland embraces innovation and creativity, providing entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses with the resources they need to attract investment and grow.

Business Accelerators

FlashStarts
Plug and Play

Co-Working and Maker Spaces

Small Business Technical Assistance, Counseling and Mentorship

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses - Participants gain practical skills in topics such as negotiation, marketing, and employee management, receive the tools and professional support to develop a strategic and customized growth plan.
Small Business Development Centers
Global Cleveland Entrepreneur In Residence
JumpStart
Cleveland 200

Financial Assistance

Our Business Development Center can help Downtown Cleveland start-ups and entrepreneurs access a variety of financial assistance programs. Downtown Cleveland Alliance is a supporter of the Cleveland 200, an initiative seeking to attract 200 start-ups to Cleveland and position them to access a $160 million regional pool of early stage investment capital.

Ohio Third Frontier --·Commercial Acceleration Loan Fund - Bridges the gap between an early-stage entrepreneurs' need for capital and traditional commercial sources of financing primarily reserved for established businesses; supports businesses that display potential to grow substantially in size and value over a relativity short period of time.
Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) - SBA microlender targeting entrepreneurs/businesses that are unable to get traditional bank financing with loans up to $350,000 to start or expand a business. Loans can be used for inventory, working capital and equipment.

National Development Council

The Grow Cuyahoga County Fund - Loans ranging from $100,000 to $1 million. The loans will generally be at rates of prime minus 2% to prime plus 2%, for terms up to 25 years depending on the proposed use of funds.
Capital Access Fund (CAF) - Provides minority business owners with access to capital offering 50 loans totaling $8 million as well as pre- and post-loan counseling to ensure the success of those small business borrowers.

Resources for Young Professionals

Downtown Cleveland is an easy place for young professionals to plug-in to a supportive network of peers with diverse backgrounds and interests. Our Business Development Center can help you connect your young professionals with the organizations below, helping you retain talent and positioning you to better attract talent in the future.

RESOURCES FOR MINORITY, FEMALE, IMMIGRANT AND LGBTQ OWNED BUSINESSES

Businesses and entrepreneurs in Downtown Cleveland benefit from a strong network of civic organizations committed to building and maintaining a diverse, welcoming and inclusive community. Our Business Development Center can connect you with the following organizations to help ensure your business receives the support, networking, and marketing opportunities it needs.

Small Business Development Center/Urban League
Commission on Economic Inclusion
Presidents’ Council Business Chamber
JumpStart
We Can Code IT
Aviatra Accelerators
Real Estate Associates Program
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
Global Cleveland
Plexus
LGBTQ Chamber