City of Columbus

(Columbus)--Area businesses will soon receive a kick-start to success in the first ever KickStart competition, a unique collaboration involving the Columbus City Council, Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI), the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District, Capitol South and other community partners.  KickStart is a business plan competition that will award up to three winners various prizes related to business development.  Prizes include free store space along a busy downtown Columbus corridor and other support services designed to grow small business.

Councilmembers Paley, Miller, and community partners launch KickStart

“KickStart is a way to energize small business owners and highlight this important sector of our economy by giving them a boost in the ultra-competitive marketplace and provide the tools they need to thrive,” said Councilmember EileenY. Paley.   “One of the ideas coming from a series of small business roundtables hosted by City Council was to find creative ways to help grow businesses in Columbus, and this contest does that.”

The KickStart competition is open to those who are looking to start a business or are the current owner of a small, independent company.   From now until March 1, owners are encouraged to submit business plans for review by ECDI.  ECDI is the 7^th largest Small Business Administration microlender in the United States.  As such, they are a leader in business development training, loan assistance programming, and business incubation services, and are uniquely qualified to review submitted plans and offer business advice to KickStart participants.  Up to 5 finalists will be screened by a panel of judges that will score the contestants on a wide variety of criteria including innovation, feasibility, and sustainability.    

“ECDI was created to help people and businesses succeed. ‘Create A Job A Day, A Business A Week’ is our track record, proven over the last eight years.  Since 2004 ECDI has created 2,000 businesses and 4,000 jobs,” said Inna Kinney, Founder and CEO of ECDI.  “ECDI staff will engage the finalists and help them identify the strengths and weaknesses in their business plans before they are presented to the judges.  These business plans will provide a solid foundation for these businesses long after they participate in KickStart.”

“KickStart is removing a major hurdle - the investment in space or a storefront - saving these business owners thousands of dollars in rent so they can reinvest in their product or service. The most difficult challenge most small business owners face in the first few years of operation is raising enough capital to survive,” said Steve Fireman, President/General Counsel of ECDI.  “The relationship with ECDI will also be beneficial. At ECDI, we educate, invest in and innovate entrepreneurial businesses to make them sustainable.”

Up to three winners will be selected and given a three year reduced rate lease of a storefront at 267, 275, and 281 South Third Street, with the first year rent-free.  This location puts the business along a major transportation corridor and less than a block away from one of the most popular downtown attractions, Columbus Commons, where hundreds of thousands of people attend great events year round including concerts, musicals and plays, and holiday light displays.  

“Downtown Columbus is transforming itself into a center for residential living and a destination for travel and tourism,” said Matt Lutz, General Counsel for Capitol South.  “Columbus Commons is at the heart of this movement and the spaces being offered in the prize package will put these lucky businesses in the center of the urban landscape.”

Additional prizes include twelve business mentoring sessions provided over the course of 1 year by ECDI and access to ECDI’s Business and Education web portal, a one year membership to the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Beanstalk, one year of free advertising from Columbus Underground/Metropreneur, one year membership to AmSpirit networking chapter, and $1,000 toward business signage.   The total prize package is valued at more than $26,000.   

Official contest rules and application may be found at Columbus.gov/kickstart.

Brought to you by Columbus City Council, in partnership with:
Columbus Downtown Development Corporation and Capitol South
Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District
Economic and Community Development Institute 

With collaborative support provided by:
Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Columbus Underground
Small Business Beanstalk
AmSpirit Business Connections

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