The Business Buzz: Fueling Small Business Growth

Join us at the MidTown Collaboration Center for September's Collaborative Conversation series in partnership with ECDI.

This month, we're hosting a panel of resource providers and small business owners for a casual conversation about leveraging available resources in Northeast Ohio's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Featuring representatives from the Small Business Association, the Women's Business Center and more, the conversation will include Randa Jackson, owner of Cleveland Cotton Candy Machines, who will share her first-hand experience utilizing resources to start and scale her business.

Immediately following the panel discussion will be a casual happy hour where attendees will be able to connect with other entrepreneurs as well as resource providers to keep the conversation and information sharing going.

Don't miss this fun, free learning opportunity - with a side of networking.

Randa Jackson started her entrepreneurial journey in July 2023 by establishing an automated cotton candy machine business. She began with a single machine and is now the largest automated cotton candy machine in the NE Ohio region.

Cleveland Cotton Candy Machines is the first mobile automated cotton candy machine business in Ohio and first to acquire dual-licensing as a vending machine and a mobile unit.

Randa is the mother of five children, works full-time as a Regulatory Data Analyst in the banking industry and has served on the Board of the Famicos Foundation for over five years. Randa Jackson's story is proof that with passion, perseverance, and a willingness to take calculated risks, one can achieve remarkable success

Niah Duncan is a Retired veteran; she currently serves as an Economic Development Specialist and Veteran Development Business Officer for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) covering the entire state of Ohio. In this role she promotes SBA programs and services, conducts, outreach, and builds strategic partnerships with economic development organizations, corporations, and small business owners.

With an MBA in Business Management, she has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs navigate the process of starting, growing, and sustaining their businesses at every stage of the business life cycle.

Jasmine Dixon has over 14 years of experience in community development finance and commercial banking, with a strong track record of expanding capital access for under-resourced entrepreneurs. She has led major initiatives in Cleveland, including ECDI’s Set Up Shop retail incubator, and her work has been featured in Crain’s Cleveland Business, Ideastream, Fresh Water Cleveland, and News Channel 5.

She also serves as faculty for Cleveland’s Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, facilitating the Being Bankable module and You Are the Lender clinic. As part of ECDI’s mission-driven team, Jasmine is dedicated to advancing racial equity and fostering equitable access to opportunity. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her family and hiking America’s national parks.

The Economic & Community Development Institute's Women's Business Centers of Ohio guide individuals at any stage of the business process. Through one-on-one counseling sessions with WBC staff and volunteers, you can get the direction and resources to meet your goals. Business advisers want to help you successfully start a business, or grow and expand your existing business -- increasing revenue and creating jobs for the local economy.

The WBCs present training workshops regularly to provide access to small business knowledge at no charge. They are the only SBA-funded Women's Business Centers in the state.

Host or Publisher Women's Business Center of Northern Ohio