TWB Cleaning Contractors shine with SBA’s technical and pandemic assistance programs
Organized in November 2014, TWB Cleaning Contractors is certified by the City of Philadelphia as a minority and woman-owned business enterprise. The company provides professional commercial, post construction, public space cleaning, landscaping, floor maintenance, and large debris removal services. Their trained and customer-focused staff of 43 employees delivers a team approach and services Philadelphia, the surrounding counties, New Jersey, and Delaware. TWB Cleaning Contractors provides public space cleaning services 7 days per week for approximately 21 commercial corridors in Philadelphia.
Trina Worrell-Benjamin is President and 100% owner of TWB Cleaning Contractors. Trina was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System and graduated from Chestnut Hill College with a BS in Criminal Justice. Her desire to become an entrepreneur and provide gainful employment for the formerly incarcerated, and under- and unemployed people living in her community, led her to gain experience managing and operating a commercial cleaning company before starting on her own entrepreneurial journey.
The U.S. Small Business Administration-backed Temple University Small Business Development Center was instrumental in the success of the company. Trina enrolled in Temple’s one-year Entrepreneur Success Workshops, which helped her with developing a business plan, employee handbooks, legal policies, advertising skills, and business procedures before she accepted her first contract in October 2015. Trina also utilized the SBDC’s incubator space until she was able to rent her current 2,000 sq. ft. facility housing her office, a training and meeting area, and storage space for supplies. In addition, the company rents parking space for their 5 trucks and garage space for equipment.
Temple University SBDC played a pivotal part with helping the company maneuver through the COVID-19 pandemic. TWB Cleaning Contractors applied and received an SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and an SBA COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) to help keep employees on payroll and continue operations.
“Trina Worrell-Benjamin is an entrepreneur who has created an impact in the City of Philadelphia,” said Steve Dixel, SBA Eastern Pennsylvania District Director. Her commitment to create jobs for minorities, returning citizens, and low-income communities is commendable. SBA is proud of the role that Temple University Small Business Development Center played in helping Trina start and grow her business.”
“TWB Cleaning Contractors has come a long way in 8 years. Owner Trina Benjamin-Worrell has proven she has the tenacity and resilience to weather the small business up and down cycles,” said Cherrill Wilson, Senior Associate Director, Temple University Small Business Development Center. “Although the company struggled through the pandemic, thanks to SBA’s emergency capital programs such as the PPP and COVID EIDL, they were able to remain financially stable and maintain a positive cash flow.”
TWB Cleaning Contractors are instrumental with providing opportunity for the residents of the communities they service. The company sponsors young Philadelphians enrolled in Youthworks, a summer job program sponsored by the City of Philadelphia. In addition, TWB Cleaning Contractors partners with organizations to provide training and employment opportunities to returning citizens.
“We are exceptionally grateful for SBA’s PPP and COVID EIDL funding,” said Trina Worrell-Benjamin, President, TWB Cleaning Contractors. “And we are thankful for the technical assistance received through Temple University’s Small Business Development Center.”
Temple University Small Business Development Center has been serving Philadelphia-area small businesses for almost 40 years by providing no-cost business services, solutions, and knowledge to entrepreneurs and small business owners, so they are able to make smart decisions and prosper.
The SBDC program is a public/private partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and 15 universities and colleges across the Commonwealth.