Backers, including Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish – say small businesses provide the bulk of jobs in the region.  Now an agreement between the county and the Economic and Community Development Institute –- or ECDI — provides loans to small business owners wanting to launch or expand their operation when other funding sources aren’t available.  

Jonah Oryszak owns the soon to open Plum Café on Lorain Avenue.  He’s just received $33,000 in ECDI money.  

As a "first-time business owner, it’s really hard to get banks to take you seriously. But I couldn’t have done any of this without ECDI. They sit you down and give you a list of everything you have to do to rehab your credit if you have to, or have someone write your business plan if you need it.”

Loan amounts will range from $10,000 to $100,000. County Executive Armond Budish says the agreement helps entrepreneurs with modest – but important — financial needs.  

“Businesses to get started or to grow often don’t need a lot of money. They might need $25,000 or $50,000 to get started or to add employees. Banks generally don’t want to give those small loans. It’s not worth it to them.”

In addition, the Cleveland Foundation says it’s providing $175,000 to ECDI. That’s on top of $1.6 million they’ve invested in the non-profit since 2011.