INCREASE CDC To Close its Doors by the End of the Year
After 20 years, INCREASE Community Development Corporation (INCREASE CDC) will be ending its small business development services to the community. The organization started out as a ministry of Columbus Christian Center Church in 1999 and has since started over 1,000 businesses in Central Ohio with an investment of over $450,000 in micro loans.
INCREASE CDC was founded by William J. Carter who served as the Executive Director for 15 years and was succeeded by Deonna Barnett who led the organization for the last 4 years. More than 2500 have enrolled in its small business training classes and workshops. The organization was known for its microenterprise training program that assisted in the development of both startup and existing small businesses. Program participants gained skills in small business management, business planning, business model design, presentation skills and more.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to have served in this capacity,” says Barnett. “I’m even more thankful to know that our work has brought people out of poverty and has given hope to the hopeless in our community. Our business owners now have the confidence to find ways to better their own communities through the work of their own enterprises.”
INCREASE CDC’s last day of services were November 29, 2018 with their last training graduation at Long Street Studios located at 300 E. Long St., Columbus, OH 43215.
The graduating class included:
Idris Ahmed – Solomon Homes
Josuha Anderson – The Curator Book Project
Nikki Bishop – Doggy Stylez
Yolanda Bolden – Diff-Ability Services
Michael Makeba – The Blu Plate
Chyna Mitchell – SPEAK Project Ohio*
Bridgette Mix – The Blu Plate
Joanna Ochieng-Tejeda – Healthy Connections Child Care Agency
Joselyn Parker – SPEAK Project Ohio*
Antoine Riley – Brother’s Lawn Care Services
Danyel Saunders – Cake Décor
Brenda Simms – A Mission’s Call
Larry Smith – L & D Industries
Published in OhioMBE – Dec. 1, 2018 – pdf
