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ECDI

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Direct business lender for working capital loans and equipment financingColumbus, OhioProgram-dependent US service area; Catalyst has designated areas within FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, NC, OH, SC, TN and WV.
BBLL 000592Listed Oct 2026From public recordsLast checked Oct 31, 2026
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About

ECDI pairs business lending with preparation and training, and publishes a separate partner-created Catalyst Fund opportunity.

Direct business lender. Directly funds business financing; products and terms depend on the lender.

This entry starts from public records. The lender fills in the rest when it claims the entry, which is free.

What they lend

Working capital loansEquipment financingStartup funding
General small business
From the lender's own site and public records.

A second look at ECDI

ECDI pairs business lending with preparation and training, and publishes a separate partner-created Catalyst Fund opportunity.

Economic & Community Development Institute is an SBA intermediary microlender; partner program funding and eligibility should be distinguished from its own loans.

Published by Levr, not by ECDI. This is a source-based profile and editorial assessment, not customer reviews or a promise of approval. Sources checked October 31, 2026.

Visit the official provider website →

Programs and published requirements

Compare the specific program and legal funding entity on your offer. Advertised limits and minimums do not guarantee eligibility or your price.

Small business lending

Repayment
Terms up to 120 months, depending on the loan.
Fees
Closing costs capped at 5%; $25 application fee per applicant.
Security
Personal guarantee and collateral or equity-injection requirements apply.
Application
Business plan normally required; ECDI may waive it for businesses operating successfully for at least two years.

Provider sources: Loan process

Small Business Catalyst Fund

Amount and terms
$5,000–$350,000 at 7.5% fixed interest, with 60-month term and amortization.
Purpose
Working capital, refinancing or capital-asset purchases.
Eligibility
For-profit businesses with annual revenue no greater than $10 million, in designated focus areas.
Program partners
Created with Community Reinvestment Fund, USA and Fifth Third Bank; funding is limited.

Provider sources: Catalyst Fund

When it may fit

Our assessment of the published programs

  • Entrepreneurs who need application preparation and advising as well as capital.

What to weigh carefully

  • ECDI excludes nonprofits, real-estate acquisitions and specified federal-loan defaults from its general lending.
  • The general loan page includes a 2025 amount reference; confirm the current program limit rather than treating it as a universal cap.

Questions before you accept an offer

  1. Am I eligible for ECDI lending or a partner-originated Catalyst loan?
  2. Which geography, collateral, reporting and training requirements apply to my offer?

Ask for written terms. Compare net cash received, total repayment, fees, payment timing and early-payoff costs for the same financing need.

Prepare your comparison

Use the same questions and figures for each offer you receive.

Alternatives to research

These are options for a related financing need, not a ranking or a claim of equivalent eligibility or pricing.

Brightpoint Development Fund

Compare Brightpoint for eligible Indiana businesses.

OnDeck

Compare an online term-loan process for an established company.

The lender

Type
Direct business lender
Legal name
Economic & Community Development Institute
Founded
Not yet provided Add it
Charter
Not yet provided Add it
Headquarters
Columbus, Ohio
Service area
Program-dependent US service area; Catalyst has designated areas within FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, NC, OH, SC, TN and WV.
Meets in person
Not yet provided Add it
Languages
Not yet provided Add it
Program approvals
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Also lends to consumers
Not yet provided Add it
Website
ecdi.org
LinkedIn
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Loan officers at this lender

No loan officers listed yet. Work here? Claim your profile.

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