Columbus small businesses continue to grow [Video]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Focusing on the “business” of downtown is where Columbus leaders are placing their efforts as central Ohio prepares to welcome more than a million new residents in the years to come.

“The community told us that they wanted downtown to be much more representative with more small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses,” said Amy Taylor, president of Downtown Columbus, Inc.

DCI is a private nonprofit organization created in 2002 to help lead Columbus through collaborations that improve connectivity, livability and inclusivity.

“People who live downtown want to walk to their experiences and that means they want to walk to the places where they buy things,” Taylor said.

The City of Columbus is now accepting applications for phase two of the Ground Floor Growth Initiative, which removes barriers for people who want to start their …