One-Stop Business Resource Center

The Cuyahoga County Public Library, including the Beachwood brand at 25501 Shaker Blvd., has several resources that are available for small businesses. These resources include business media, publications, programs and analytical tools such as the following.  

The CCPL Research & Discover page can be found at cuyahogalibrary.org/research-discover/resources-a-z.

Plunkett Research Online: Plunkett provides market research, industry statistics, technologies analysis, business intelligence, industry associations, company profiles with corporate executive contacts, glossaries, resources and tools for job seekers, and much more. Additionally, you will have the capability to generate customized reports that contain information specific to your purpose which can be exported to a PDF. Data is subject to copyrights.

LinkedIn Learning: Learn business, creative, and technology skills to achieve your personal and professional goals using LinkedIn Learning! Over 16,000 free video courses taught by industry experts. Access requires your library card number and PIN. 

Cuyahoga Works Program: Assisting with career counseling, resume writing and job skills workshops. 

SkillMill:  All you need is a Cuyahoga County Public Library card to access SkillMill, an online, on-demand learning platform for skilled trades. Develop skills at your own pace through expert-led video lessons and digital training simulations. Hone your skills and be ready for whatever the real world throws at you.

Financial Rating Series Online: Use these powerful tools to protect your finances, invest wisely, grow your wealth, and learn more about your finances, including financial literacy basics and planning for the future; Medigap Plans; search for stock and mutual fund reports; tools to screen insurance companies, banks and credit unions.

Business Source Premier: Access hundreds of articles from popular business magazines, trade publications and scholarly journals – anytime, anywhere.

Wall Street Journal: Access The Wall Street Journal’s WSJ.com from anywhere for free!

Morning Star Investment Center: MIRC provides reliable, independent investment information, stock reports, fund reports, analyses and ratings to help investors make informed decisions. Updated daily. 

Merger Intellect: This resource provides free access to data on global, public and private businesses, including active/inactive companies and their executives. Features include consumer white pages and U.S. census data (in partnership with Nielson). It is recommended to take one of Mergent's free training webinars before using this resource.

Standard Poor’s NetAdvantage: NetAdvantage is a treasure trove of investment information, industry analysis and stock and bond data. Learn everything you ever wanted to know about budgeting, credit scores, college loans and refinancing. 

Value Line Institutional Services: Access in-depth data on more than 3,500 stocks. This resource includes the Investment Survey (with Small & Mid-Cap), industry reports, analyst commentaries, ranks and ratings. 

Co-Working Spaces: Co-working spaces offer numerous benefits for individuals, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and even small businesses. They offer flexible meeting rooms, networking opportunities, collaboration with other professionals, access to unique amenities and resources, and provide a professional environment. Beachwood has four dedicated co-working spaces that can provide you great space within a professional office setting. 

Auxano Studio: 23330 Commerce Park, Beachwood, OH 44122
COhatch: 26300 Cedar Rd., Beachwood, OH 44122
Regus: 2000 Auburn Drive Number 200, Beachwood, OH 44122
PS Executive Suites: 3401 Enterprise Pkwy., Suite 340, Beachwood, OH 44122
The Office Commons: 3659 Green Road, Beachwood, OH 44122

Cyber Security of Small Business:  By prioritizing cybersecurity, small businesses can safeguard their assets, maintain customer trust, and ensure long-term viability in a digital economy. There are several areas of focus and resources that can assist small businesses like the GCA Small Business Cybersecurity Toolkit addressing your risks, setting a defense strategy, managing strong passwords, preventing phishing and malware, backup, recovery and protecting your email and reputation.

• Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): Offers a variety of resources, including guides, toolkits, and training materials specifically for small businesses. 
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Provides the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which includes guidelines and best practices tailored for organizations of all sizes. 
• Small Business Administration (SBA): Offers cybersecurity resources, including articles and links to training programs. 
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Provides a comprehensive guide on protecting personal information, as well as steps to take after a data breach. 
• SANS Institute: Offers free cybersecurity training resources and awareness materials, including webinars and newsletters. 
• StaySafeOnline: A project of the National Cyber Security Alliance, it provides tips and resources for businesses to improve their cybersecurity posture.
• Free Antivirus and Security Software: Many companies offer free versions of their antivirus and security software that can help protect against basic threats.
• Local Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): Often provides workshops and seminars on cybersecurity tailored to small businesses. 
• Ohio State University Cybersecurity For Small Business PILOT Program: Focusing on the manufacturing sector, which employs one-third of the state's 2.2 million small business employees, the Ohio Cybersecurity for Small Businesses Pilot will educate, train, mentor and improve small businesses’ ability to mitigate cybersecurity threats. The grant-funded program developed this online course to lead small businesses through steps to identify cybersecurity threats, respond to cybercrimes and develop resilient infrastructure. 
• Global Cyber Alliance: The GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit provides free and effective tools to reduce cyber risk. The tools are carefully selected and organized to make it easy to find and implement cybersecurity controls that will help organizations defend themselves against cyber threats. The toolkit is designed for small to medium-sized businesses but can be used by any organization.  
• CyberSECURE Program: The Ohio Department of Development announced the launch of CyberSECURE, a new program designed to help small businesses strengthen their cybersecurity and prepare for upcoming changes in federal contracting requirements.

Financial Assistance: Financial assistance is crucial for small businesses because it provides the necessary capital for growth, operational stability, and resilience. There are several financing opportunities that can assist small businesses like the Economic and Community Development Institute, the Micro-Loan Program, the Small Business Administration and even local lenders like the HFLA here in Beachwood. The City of Beachwood also offers a Revolving Loan Fund and Linked Deposit Program that can assist local companies with lower interest rates on commercial loans.  

City of Beachwood Job Creation Incentive Grant (Application)
Cleveland Neighborhood Progress
Community Development Financial Institution Loan Participation Program (CDFI LPP)
Cuyahoga County Business Growth Lending Program
Cuyahoga County Grow Cuyahoga County Fund
Economic and Community Development Institute
Growth Capital Corporation
Growth Capital Video
Innovation Ohio Loan Fund Servicing
HFLA of Northeast Ohio
Ohio Department of Development
Ohio Micro-Loan Program
Ohio Minority Business Direct Loan Program
Ohio Venture Fund
PACE / STEP Energy Efficiency Financing Program
Pre-Seed/Seed Plus Fund Capitalization Program
TeamNEO
Technology Validation and Start-up Fund
U.S Small Business Administration

Government and Industry:  Overall, resources supported by local communities can support the growth and sustainability of small businesses by providing financial assistance, support services, regulatory guidance, networking opportunities, and access to markets. These supporting organizations such as the Ohio Business Matchmaker, Magnet and the Cleveland Culinary launch and kitchen are unique in that they can provide key tools and knowledge to support growing companies within our area.

BioEnterprise
BioOhio
City of Beachwood Building Department
Cleveland Culinary Launch and Kitchen
Cuyahoga County Vendor's License
Manufacturing Advocacy Growth Network (MAGNET)
Nottingham Spirk
Ohio Business Matchmaker
Ohio Employee Ownership Center
Ohio Attorney General
Ohio Secretary of State
OhioX
Tri-State PTAC Mega-Matchmaker

Innovation is essential for businesses looking to not only survive, but thrive in today's dynamic and competitive marketplace. By fostering a culture of innovation and continuously seeking new ways to create value, businesses can unlock growth opportunities and secure their future success. These organizations can assist companies in the areas of innovation, commercialization, technology, research and development.  

MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network

Magnet can assist your company with analyzing its processes and technologies, then developing a future state plan to meet the needs of your business and increase efficiency. Improve product performance and cost, improve speed and inventory and minimize disruption. Industry 4.0 provides technologies that fit your company, providing you with improved speed, flexibility and quality. Magnet has 40 years of experience building custom machinery and process equipment and throughout their 4-D phased approach, MAGNET utilizes “design for manufacturing,” “value engineering” methodologies and 3D modeling to provide a robust product design and proprietary manufacturing equipment. Additionally, MAGNET works directly with partner manufacturers to build a dedicated talent pipeline through various professional training programs that qualify people for well-paying, stable manufacturing jobs.

New Ventures: MAGNET’s New Ventures team works with physical product and hard tech startup companies to transform ideas into businesses.

• Business and Product Viability
• Prototyping and Scale-up
• Annual Mspire Pitch Competition: For Ohio startups that specialize in hard tech, physical, or manufactured products. Prizes help early-stage companies move forward to the next milestone through assistance with projects such as engineering prototyping and operations work.
• Advanced Manufacturing Fund (AMF): Invests in high-potential early-stage manufacturing companies in Ohio and helps them navigate business-building and funding challenges Along with their investment partner JumpStart, MAGNET also offers expert advice and technical support to their investor group and portfolio companies.

 Additional MAGNET Links:
Consulting Services
Strategy, Marketing & Sales
Technology & Engineering
New Ventures

JUMPSTART

JumpStart combines capital, services and connections to help entrepreneurs grow, researchers commercialize and corporations innovate. JumpStart offers personalized business services to help entrepreneurs overcome common obstacles, prepare for the future and unlock their company’s full potential, for example in the areas of market research, sales and marketing, investor readiness, and growth planning.  

• Trailblazer HealthTech Accelerator: A dedicated platform for Ohio’s health care startups, offering targeted support and critical resources to fuel innovation and prepare startups for venture capital investment. It's a 3-month intensive program helps ambitious startups accelerate their journey by providing intensive advising, significant non-dilutive funding for critical services, and unparalleled access to experts and resources.
• Burton D. Morgan Mentoring: Matches entrepreneurs with experienced mentors, successful Northeast Ohio entrepreneurs and executives, who donate their valuable time because they believe supporting the next generation of great business leaders is the key to a vibrant economy.
• JumpStart Ventures

• Evergreen Fund: Invests in high-potential tech companies (pre-seed and seed-stage companies with some demonstration of product-market fit) located in Ohio. Technology focus areas include B2B software and healthcare.
• Focus Fund: The Focus Fund invests in high-potential tech companies (pre-seed and seed-stage companies with some demonstration of product-market fit) led by Black, Latino and female entrepreneurs located in Ohio. Technology focus areas include B2B software and healthcare.
• Healthcare Collaboration Fund: Jointly managed by JumpStart and University Hospital Ventures, invests in high-potential healthcare tech companies (pre-seed and seed-stage companies with some demonstration of product-market fit) located in Ohio. Investments provide access to a unique "living laboratory" model that leverages clinical experts and practical use cases to accelerate the commercialization of early-stage technologies.
• NEXT Fund: Invests in high-potential technology companies (late seed and Series A stage companies that typically have strong product-market fit and are generating annual recurring revenue of at least $500K) located in Ohio and neighboring states. Technology focus areas include B2B software and healthcare.
• NEXT II Fund: $50M fund making Series A and follow-on investments in early-stage Ohio and Midwest technology startups, with a range of $500K to $3M per investment.
• Corporate Innovation: JumpStart helps corporations and research institutions leverage entrepreneurship to advance impact. They accelerate corporate and research innovation through a unique ‘outside-in, inside-out’ model.

Additional JumpStart Links:
Small Business Impact Program
Programma Impacto
Small Business Blueprint Program
Encore Mentoring Program
Funding Opportunities

Wave Strategy

Wave primarily focuses on the development of product concepts and early stage technology emanating out of leading medical centers and biotechnology incubators. Wave bridges these technologies with strategic partners, investors and industry experts as necessary to accelerate their introduction to the market. Wave Strategy works with Academic Medical Centers and Institutions, Industry, Accelerators, Start-Ups and Investors to accelerate innovation in healthcare. Their experience is in areas of technology assessment, portfolio organization, start-up formation and management, licensing, strategic alliances, deal structure, product concepts and value creation, business plan, and venture philanthropy.

• Technology Assessment: Worked with academic medical centers to establish and maintain innovation processes and funding committees to expedite the commercialization of their internal innovation pipeline.
• Portfolio Organization: Built and implemented solutions to expedite commercialization and development of incubator early-stage biomedical technologies portfolio. Identified and strategized around High-Value Assets requiring pharmaceutical drug discovery and optimization expertise.
• Start Up Formation & Management: Strategic and operations lead for company whose first product is a 510(k) cleared drug delivery catheter system. Manage all investor relations, day to day operations and business development functions.
• Licensing: Manage expansive cell and gene therapy portfolio for leading academic medical center including tech assessment, IP maintenance, deal sourcing and execution.
• Strategic Alliances: Led established food service equipment manufacturer’s efforts to enter the medical equipment industry, including curation of product line, market research and competitive analysis.
• Deal Structure: Assisted European based cellular engineering platform technology with business development, strategic partnerships, and customers.
• Product Concept/Value Creation: Advised a mid-sized IT logistics company in the creation and launch of selected offerings in the healthcare space by leveraging our clinical relationships to match their technologies to real-time needs.
• Business Plan/Pitch Deck: Assisted tech incubator with creation and socialization of pitch documents for portfolio companies including executive summary, business plan, pitch deck and one pager.

YSU Data Mine

Find solutions for innovation through data. Data Mine serves as an innovative educational experience for students inviting corporate partners in propelling data science forward via teamwork, education, and research. Students use the Agile methodology to address corporate needs, investigate data and serve future business growth opportunities. 

International Business:  The City of Beachwood and the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce work to support international business engagement through various partnerships. There are opportunities through the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce to engage with local delegates from various continents and countries. There are also key regional resources through Jobs Ohio, the Ohio Export Assistance of ODOD, and the SBDC Export Assistance Network, along with these other key supporting agencies. 

Chamber of Commerce Collaborative
Foreign Direct Investment Blog by Jobs Ohio
Global Business Alliance
Global Business Center - Introduction to Services
Ohio Department of Development Export Assistance & International Engagement
Ohio Department of Development Global Markets Division
SBDC Export Assistance Network 
SelectUSA FDI Resource (PDF)

Local sponsorship presents the opportunity to meet your potential customers face to face and make a unique impression. Explore these options in our area!

• Beachwood 100 Sponsor Packages
• Beachwood Chamber of Commerce
• City of Beachwood - Community Events

Minority Business Resources:  Supporting minority-owned businesses contributes to economic empowerment within our communities. By providing opportunities for entrepreneurship and wealth creation, businesses can help reduce economic disparities and promote financial stability, diversity and inclusion, entrepreneurial development and overall economic growth. The following resources such as the Ohio Minority Business Center, the Small Business Development Center, the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and the Inclusion Marketplace offer key services along with the Financial Assistance Tab and the Women’s Resource Tab here within the One-Stop Resource Center.  

Inclusion Marketplace
National Minority Supplier Development Council
Ohio Development Services Agency Minority Business Assistance Centers
Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council
Small Business Development Center
UBIZ VENTURE CAPITAL
United States Minority Chamber of Commerce
Urban League of Greater Cleveland (ulcleveland.org)

Networking:  Networking plays a vital role in the success of small businesses by facilitating relationship building, access to resources, business opportunities, market insights, learning and development, support, visibility, brand awareness and recruitment. The Beachwood Chamber of Commerce offers a number of events and networking opportunities for local businesses as well as these other area networking organizations and services.  

Beachwood Chamber of Commerce
Case Western Reserve University LaunchNet
Cleveland State University Monte Ahuja College of Business
Cleveland State University Small Business Development Center
Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE)
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE)
Greater Cleveland Partnership
JumpStart
JumpStart 2023 Community Impact Book
Kent State University Office of Corporate Engagement and Commercialization
National Association for the Self Employed (NASE)
National Federation of Independent Business
Ohio Department of Development 1st Stop Business Connection
Ohio Small Business Development Center
Ohio Venture Association
Scalerator NEO
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
Small Business Administration
Team NEO
University School Young Entrepreneurs Institute

Thryve Financial Hub Workshops: If you have extensive financial data but aren't sure how to interpret it to drive value for your business, or if you're looking to develop financial skills for business success but are uncertain where to start, Thryve Financial’s workshops and classes can help. Visit their website to learn more.

The City of Beachwood is home to some of the best places to shop in Northeast Ohio. Home to Beachwood Place, the only Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue stores in Northeast Ohio, and specialty shops that are destinations to the Beachwood community. To support our growing retail businesses, the City of Beachwood offers the following programs.  

Beachwood’s New Retail Visual Display Program: In collaboration with a full service design firm specializing in creating custom seasonal and holiday visual displays for retailers, restaurants and hotels; Beachwood is bringing local companies complimentary storefront consultations to gather inspiration and insights to create a retail storefront and displays that will draw attention to their products and increase sales. Through this consultation a company will learn some creative tricks to elevate their storefront aesthetics and captivate every passerby to draw in fresh clientele. Retail store owners who engage a retail consultant or make improvements to their retail storefront are eligible for the city’s linked deposit loan program to support such investments. For more information on the Retail Visual Display Program, please call the Office of Economic Development at 216-292-1915 and for more information on the Linked Deposit Program, see the attached program description and application.  

Grand Opening Ceremonial Ribbon Cuttings: The City of Beachwood would love to assist you in celebrating your business opening with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. We understand that hosting your grand opening can be exciting but overwhelming. The Office of Economic Development can help you organize a professional ribbon cutting ceremony. The week prior to your planned event, we will notify local elected officials and the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce of your planned opening celebration. We will also plan in advance to provide you a large bow, large ceremonial scissors and cutting ribbon or we can bring them out to you the day of the event. At the event, our Economic Development Director will welcome everyone, introduce all the elected officials attending the event, and provide you with an opportunity to receive any proclamations. The Director will also introduce your key staff so you can share the exciting news about your new business and the services you are providing to the Beachwood community. The Director will then set everyone up for an official countdown, ceremonial ribbon cutting and photograph opportunity.

Small Business Development Center Assistance:  The City of Beachwood works in partnership with the Cuyahoga County-CSU Small Business Development Center. This center can offer in-depth, one-on-one counseling for small businesses with under 500 employees. Additional services also include training, e-counseling, quality-based assessments, technical assistance, loan packaging guidance and information on federal, state and local regulations and programs.

Tri-C Programs and Business Acceleration: There are a number of programs and workshops that can be used by your managerial staff to support their further development. These workshops and training are economical and cover key topics to help support the growth of your business. Visit the Tri-C’s Program tab below.

Small Business Resources: Resources to assist small businesses like the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) play a vital role in supporting the success of small businesses by providing a wide range of assistance, resources, and expertise tailored to the unique needs of entrepreneurs. These resources and services provide advisors and partners, helping small businesses navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve their goals. 

BGC Small Business Ecosystem
Business Advisers of Cleveland
Business Succession Planning
COSE
CSU Small Business Development Center
Cuyahoga County Office of Small Business
ECDI
GCP Marketplace
JobsOhio Small Business Academy
Jumpstart
MAGNET
Ohio Aerospace Institute
Ohio APEX Accelerator
Small Business Administration
The Presidents' Council Business Chamber
Urban League of Greater Cleveland
Veteran Friendly Business Enterprise Procurement Program
Young Entrepreneur Pitch Challenge

Beachwood Business Jump-Start and Acceleration Programs

Tri-C 4-Step Business Programs

These four courses are organized by tracks that you can select based on your needs or the stage of your business, from defining your idea to expanding your business and accelerating the growth of your company. Pick one step or consider multiple steps for where you are today and the ideas you may want to generate to grow for tomorrow.      

• Discovery: Want to start your own business? This track will help you identify your passion and turn your idea into a reality.
• Foundation: Have you just started or been in business for at least a year? This track helps you put strong practices in place to keep you focused and help your business run smoothly.
• Acceleration: Now the fun begins! Learn how you can accelerate your business from discovery to prosperity.
• Expansion: Ready to expand your business with new products or services or enter a new market? Expand your enterprise and prepare yourself for legacy building.

Each course is held over 4 weeks, typically held within 8 hours over a 2-day period. They are designed to take your company to the next level and next step to further business growth. Each course is under $1,000 and scholarships are available for these courses. For more information, join us at one of the City of Beachwood Coffee Hours or contact the Office of Economic Development. Additional information can also be found at https://www.tri-c.edu/corporatecollege/center-for-entrepreneurs/program-tracks.html.

Tri-C Business Workshop Series

In the workshop series for entrepreneurs, learn from individuals who not only have expertise in various topics but who have also been in your shoes. 

Learn from entrepreneurs and instructors on topics they are passionate about and excel in, and maybe even make a living at, for two to three hours. The workshops will help you get to know the instructors from our program tracks who are business owners, such as yourself and in our community. Connect with peers, instructors, community, business owners and, most importantly, experts in their fields in this intimate setting at Corporate College East. For a list of upcoming workshops visit, https://www.tri-c.edu/corporatecollege/center-for-entrepreneurs/workshop-series.html

Tri-C Podcasting

In these programs you will learn how to grow your brand and your business beyond Beachwood!

Make your podcast stand out from the crowd. Educate your listeners while showcasing your creativity through your podcast. These courses include fun and interactive approaches at running a podcast show, hosting and interviewing as well as the behind the scenes details such as editing. The courses include reliable technicians, professional equipment and rentable spaces for podcasting. View more information on these courses at https://www.tri-c.edu/corporatecollege/center-for-entrepreneurs/podcasting.html 

Podcast spaces available for rent in Beachwood:

• JRM Commercial Properties, 3659 South Green Road, Call 216-292-4500.
• CoHatch, 26300 Cedar Road, Suite 1105, Call 216-373-1577.  

Women’s Resources:  Women’s resources play a crucial role in promoting small business growth by addressing barriers, providing support, fostering connections, and empowering women entrepreneurs to realize their full potential. These local organizations and resources are investing in women's entrepreneurship to bring new economic opportunities, drive innovation, and foster economic growth. The Beachwood Chamber of Commerce hosts a dynamic women’s networking group, the women’s business centers of Ohio offers a plethora of resources and several other organizations listed below bring unique opportunities for women business owners to engage, learn and grow the overall profitability of their companies.  

Aviatra Accelerators
 Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window. Business & Development Guide for Female Entrepreneurs
Digital Undivided Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window. 
Ernst and Young Entrepreneurial Winning Women Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window. 
Female Founders Alliance
 Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window. Female Entrepreneur Summit
Lean In Network Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window. 
Merian Ventures Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window. 
National Association of Women Business Owners Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window. 
National Women's Business Council Opens a New Window. 
 Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window. Purdue Resource for Women in Business
Small Business Administration Office of Women's Business Ownership
 Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window. Women in Manufacturing
Women in Networking (Cleveland) Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window. 
Women in Sports and Events (Cleveland) Opens a New Window.  Opens a New Window. 
Women Business Centers of Ohio Opens a New Window. 

Workforce development is essential for businesses to thrive in today's competitive environment. It ensures that employees have the skills, knowledge, and capabilities needed to drive success, innovate, and deliver value to customers and stakeholders. These local resources can assist you in your workforce development initiatives.  

John Carroll University, Boler Professional Development
Ohio Means Jobs, Helps Employers
Ohio TechCred
Ohio Workforce Development
Tri-C Workforce Solutions
Tri-C Mobile Training Unit