Warehouse Fitness
Center for Rural Affairs For years, Rene Marquez dreamed of owning his own gym. He longed for a big garage or any sort of space where he could exercise and run a boxing program. With 20 years of fighting experience and a work history at fitness centers and of teaching boxing classes to kids, he was ready to have a place on his own. Then, when he was least expecting it, the opportunity to buy a space presented itself as the perfect option. Warehouse Fitness & Training Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, had been open for a few decades, but it had changed owners several times during that period. “When it ended up on the market again, my wife and I weren’t actively looking for a place, but we thought it might be the right time to take a chance and give it a shot,” Rene said. Due to lack of…
George Flooring
Center for Rural Affairs Jorge Velasquez has faced a few challenges along his journey to being the owner of George Flooring, based in South Sioux City, Nebraska. One of the biggest barriers has been learning the economic system of a different country. Jorge is from San Pedro Sula Atlántida, Honduras, and moved to the U.S. in 2007, looking for better opportunities. He spent years working in meatpacking plants and as a flooring installer before deciding to become a small business owner. “My number one motivation to keep going forward is my family and, personally, I feel very proud to have my own business,” he said. He turned to Center for Rural Affairs staff to assist him, and he trusts them to provide more help should he need it. “They are willing to answer every question and give me the information they have on hand, and if they don’t have the…
Laundry Mex
Center for Rural Affairs When Maria Dolores Arias Villalpando started working at Laundry Mex, LLC, in Grand Island, Nebraska, she had no idea she’d eventually own the business and the building it’s in, plus become a property manager to other immigrant business owners like herself. Maria’s employers approached her several years ago about buying their laundromat, and she was thrilled to take them up on their offer because she enjoyed working in the laundry business. At the time, her son also rented a space in the commercial building for his transportation and parcel business. “My son and I decided that if I bought the building he didn’t have to pay rent anymore, and we could use that money toward the purchase of the building,” Maria said. A visit from Center for Rural Affairs Latino Loan Specialist Griselda Rendon became a crucial piece to complete Maria’s plan. Griselda walked Maria through…
Total Graphics
Center for Rural Affairs From hair bows and craft shows to offering custom graphic designs out of her own storefront, Mandy Parker had no idea her hobby would evolve into a successful business. What began as a simple craft project, ended up “spiraling out of control” as people discovered her work and wanted to buy items for themselves. “At the time, I had an in-home day care,” Mandy said. “I made bows for my daughter, got a Cricut, did crafty things, and started making them for others. Then, I went to a craft show or two and people started asking for more/different items.” Mandy’s work became so popular she didn’t have time to continue both running her day care and creating designs. Since she has a degree in graphic design, Mandy chose to go that route, where her passion was. Eventually, an office space opened up in Wayne, Nebraska, and…
Pham’s Coffee & Boba
Center for Rural Affairs Pham’s Coffee & Boba in Grand Island, Nebraska, is not a typical coffee shop. From placing an order to taking the first sip, customers are in for an immersive, educational, and delicious experience. When Tuan Pham opened his shop in August 2023, he wanted to give residents something they’d never tried before, and he succeeded, in part because of guidance and a loan from the Center for Rural Affairs. He’s now in the process of opening a second location. “The Center has been an awesome resource,” Tuan said. “When we got a loan, there were requirements for a full business plan, projections, cost breakdowns, etc. I really appreciated that because it forced me to think deeply about things. It made us ask ourselves what success looks like for us. It was nice to be able to talk through that.” Jessica Campos, the Center’s Women’s Business Center…
Palermo Italian Cuisine
Center for Rural Affairs When Ernesto Estrada Marquez came to the U.S. in 2001, he didn’t plan on eventually owning a restaurant. But he took jobs in the food industry after arriving in Chicago, and he discovered he enjoyed it immensely. Ernesto has worked off and on in the restaurant industry for the past two decades, and now he and his brother Alejandro own Palermo Italian Cuisine & Bar, in Jackson, Nebraska. A true family-run business, they operate the restaurant with their wives, Jessica Marquez Velazquez and Dayana Cross Magana. “My brother was living here in Nebraska before me, and his wife’s family had been living here as well,” said Ernesto. “So, after talking about and planning to open a restaurant, he thought we should do it in Nebraska. I moved, and we got to work.” Their first step was finding a location. By a lucky coincidence, a friend who…
Four Brothers Wood-Fired Pizza
With a passion for a unique pizza experience and with over 10+ years of experience working in the pizza and restaurant industry, in early 2020, husband and wife, Jamaal and Christa Bradley, opened Four Brothers Wood-Fired Pizza in Clarksville, Tennessee – named after their four sons. The Bradleys originally reached out to Pathway Lending for a loan, but got more than just the financial support they sought for their family-owned business. They were connected and worked with one-on-one business advisors to map out their growth plans. With a $20,000 SBA Microloan provided by Pathway Lending to provide working capital for funding operations, Four Brothers has been able to continue to grow. Four Brothers opened hoping to be a building block in their small community that can be passed on to their sons in the future, and credits Pathway for helping them thrive.
Fishing Creek Jewelry
Jarod Cox grew up exploring the edges of Fishing Creek in Pulaski County. He became interested in jewelry at a young age, often sculpting beads from the Kentucky clay that he found in the creek and collecting geodes. Fast forward to today and he is the owner and artist behind Fishing Creek Jewelry, based in Somerset, Kentucky. A metalsmith and lapidary artist, he specialized in local stones, such as Kentucky agate and quartz, and gems. While at Berea College, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in studio arts, he learned the basics of metalsmithing under mentor Tim Glotzbach. After graduating, Jarod continued to hone his unique style for several months while participating in the City of Berea’s Accelerated Artists Program prior to becoming a full time artist. He often takes stones such as Kentucky agate that he finds locally, cutting and polishing them to set in handcrafted bezels of sterling…
Mike’s Hike & Bike
Come on in. Browse. Ask questions. Get Advice. Play. That’s the business philosophy of Mike Hale, owner of Mike’s Hike & Bike in Richmond, Kentucky. The shop provides all gear for backpacking, cycling, kayaking and climbing, as well as repairs, rentals, recommendations, and more. Opened in 2007 on Main Street, Hale said excellent customer service is the most important part of he and his staff’s job, helping customers to find the best piece of gear to fill their unique particular needs. The Mountain Association has provided affordable financing for Mike’s Hike & Bike during their time in business, utilizing the SBA Microloan. “When you rely on your equipment and your wits to keep you happy, safe, and reasonably comfortable, you need the best that you can get. This doesn’t mean that you have to have the most expensive stuff, just the most functional,” Hale said. Everything in the store has been selected for its function –…
Rustic Rooster Custom Metal
Rod opened Rustic Rooster Custom Metal in March 2017 in Whitesburg, Kentucky. A Letcher County native, Rod earned his teaching degree from Alice Lloyd College. Graduating at a time when many teachers were being laid off, he spent 11 years working for a coal company and 6 years after that working for a wood manufacturing facility in Hazard. In 2012, Rod accepted a position to teach welding at the Letcher County High School, which serves as the Area Technology Center. He was in charge of setting up the school’s new CNC machine, learning how to use it and training students on it. They made various products like signs and firepits for the community. Pretty soon, they were getting overrun with requests. Enjoying the work so much, Rod decided to open up a private business right in his own backyard. He started following a few homegrown metal fabrication companies online. When…
Taco Holler
Ashley Bledsoe is the mastermind behind Harlan County’s Taco Holler, a food truck and catering business established in 2017. After coming up with the idea during a visit to Taco Luchador, a popular taco spot in Louisville, Kentucky, Ashley and her wife, Leslie Bledsoe, got to work to bring a similar concept to far southeastern Kentucky. Finally, in summer 2017, they did an informal study of their food truck concept at the Harlan County Farmers Market. “The response was overwhelming, so we knew we were onto something,” Ashley said. Before COVID-19, Ashley would set up the Taco Holler truck in downtown Harlan for one day per week – a day that so many in the community looked forward week to week– and she offered catering services for local events, parties and conferences. A believer in inclusivity, the menu includes a wide variety of options from vegan to gluten-free and keto-diet…
Copy Cats Printing Company
Debbie Stepp of Copy Cats Printing has been providing printing services out of her shop in Paintsville, Kentucky, for more than 13 years. She has helped countless families and businesses celebrate significant moments like baby showers, graduations and grand openings since opening the shop in 2007. She serves a wide range of customers from several Eastern Kentucky counties and is proud do all printing and copying in house. They focus mostly on indoor items, rather than outdoor banners and signage, for families, schools, government offices, businesses and more. With a degree from a local vocational school in graphic art, Debbie said design is her favorite part of her job. She is continually grateful for customers trusting her with such significant work like funeral announcements, graduation invitations, and photo restoration. “One of the greatest honors of my life was designing a headstone monument for a service member in the Navy,” Debbie said. In…
Sunhouse Craft
Cynthia Main is a multi-talented modern craft maker, combining broom making and wood working out of her studio in Berea, Kentucky. Her specialties include hand woven brooms, and wooden wares hand crafted by axe and knife. Taking care to source the raw material from local, sustainably raised sources, each item is unique and special. And people are noticing. Her work has appeared in national holiday guides and many high-end home good magazines (check out the New York Magazine feature here!). She has also been invited to sell at an exclusive craft show in New York City. Her national success has inspired her to help other artists gain more exposure for their quality, unique crafts. In 2019, Cynthia worked with Mountain Association to open her business in a physical storefront with the help of a SBA Microloan. The front of the shop is an old-fashioned Five and Dime soda fountain—a gathering place for the…
The Bird and the Bear Grill
Nancy Forster-Miller and Jim Miller start The Bird and the Bear Grill as a local diner in Roscommon in 2018. An SBA Microloan by Northern Initiatives, a CDFI in Michigan, allowed the couple to purchase a building and equipment, and have working capital for the first few months of operation. The diner was immediately both popular and profitable since it opened with breakfast, lunch, and baked goods service. Customer demand surpassed what was expected to be seasonal summer business into a profitable one throughout the entire year. Over time, the Nancy and Jim expanded their building’s backroom for dining and holding senior and small community events as well as selling local gift items. COVID19 got them rethinking their business model; an ownership change also required additional funding. Northern Initiatives supported the Bird and the Bear with business coaching that included help with balance sheets, including a template and step-by-step video…
Sweet V’s Restaurant & Ice Cream
Sweet V’s in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, is more than just a local eatery. It’s one man’s dream come true, and it’s turned into a family-run success. Mark Villagrana always wanted to run his own business, and when the opportunity presented itself to open Sweet V’s, he got his entire family to join the adventure with him. His vision came to life during the summer of 2019 when Mark, his wife, Allison Harder, and his sister, Michelle Donelson, opened a food truck business. Today, they co-own and operate Sweet V’s, where they continue to serve the customer favorites they began with like gourmet cotton candy and shaved ice, and now offer ice cream, coffee, and daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner. “This journey has been so much fun,” said Allison. “It’s brought our family closer together and has given us so many opportunities.” About a year after opening, the proprietors decided to move…
Fired Up Fitness
Living in a larger community meant Megan Zoucha and her husband, Will, were used to having certain amenities nearby. While they appreciated the convenience, they opted to move to Fullerton, Nebraska (population 1,440) to enjoy the slow pace of rural living. Megan wanted to continue to lead a healthy, active lifestyle, and she did what she could in her new home. But a lack of access to equipment and proper facilities made it difficult to get the workout she wanted. So, she decided to open her own fitness center. “As we got to know our community and its people, I found there were others like me who were forced to purchase their own equipment, or were making do with little space,” she said. “But so many who would be willing to make the time for fitness (were) without the proper ways/options to do so.” Megan contacted Nance County Economic Development…
Buffalo Creek Coffee
Even with full-time jobs and full lives, Brandon and Lisa Hixon wanted to contribute more to their hometown of Chappell, Nebraska (population: 871). “We wanted to give something to the town that we thought would make it special,” said Lisa. “Chappell is a good community that has a lot of potential.” Brandon is self-employed as a farmer and also works in ag product sales for Hixon Ag, LLC; Lisa is a teacher at South Platte School in Big Springs, Nebraska. On top of these jobs, the couple decided to take on a new venture: They wanted to open a coffee shop in Chappell to add to the uniqueness of the town. “Although we do not physically work at the coffee shop ourselves because we have hired some great baristas, we do work hard behind the scenes to ensure they and the store have what’s needed to run smoothly and meet…
Wandering Goat Soap
Since 2013, Tanya Rudy and her mother Cheryl have been making handcrafted soaps from their family farm in Midcoast Maine. This mother-daughter team located in Union makes their soaps in small batches and uses only the finest quality ingredients. They combine fresh goat’s milk from their own herd with organic oils to create naturally scented and colored products. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Tanya and Cheryl were ready to expand their business. They were running out of space for production and wanted to build an addition. In order to do this, they needed financing. They reached out to Maine Small Business Development Center at Coastal Enterprises for assistance. Tanya comments, “We were so grateful to have CEI as a resource for our business and to work with Shannon on this loan! Her support and interest in our company gave us confidence while she guided us through our business plan and finances. …
Jolie Day Spa
Jolie Day Spa and Salon is a full-service spa located in downtown Dahlonega, Georgia. This small business loan was to provide permanent working capital for Nicole Wimpy to restart business operations post Covid-19. Nicole was able to cut expenses, start a spa membership program and actually increase revenues over the previous year by the end of 2020. Nicole Wimpy has been a client with ACE for over 5 years. She’s a member of the ACE Women’s High Performing Group and receives one-on-one business advisory services to strengthen her business and meet her growth goals. This loan was her fourth one from ACE for her various small businesses. She has previously been awarded ACE’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She started her business with a $50,000 loan from ACE, which she since has paid back, and she used a Small Business Assistance (SBA) loan to expand her spa’s health, wellness, and beauty…
Eclectic 79 Home Furniture Store
Juan Carlos and Viviana Ramirez, owners of Eclectic 79 Home Furniture Store in Dalton, Georgia first learned about ACE when they needed a small business loan to purchase inventory in January 2020. Furniture sales were going well until the pandemic hit in March and traffic in the store came to a standstill. They became very concerned because the store was the livelihood for their whole family as well as supporting other employees. ACE was able to immediately offer payment deferrals to help relieve the pressure and their ACE SBA microloan was eligible for the CARES ACT payments from April through September. This fast action was much appreciated since they were denied their SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan due to an administrative issue. Temporarily forced to close the store, they had to find a way to redirect their business. Fortunately, the couple was already fully engaged in building a stronger business…