President Biden announced important changes to the PPP, including a two-week window for businesses with fewer than 20 employees.
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Success Stories

Situation:

C&R Beauty Bar is a premier salon for curly and natural hair services. Since founded in  2015 by Rodricka “Ricka” O’Bannon and Chenica Racine, the salon has offered custom hair services, including cuts and colors, extensions and custom units. C&R also offers makeup, facial waxing and bridal services. 

C&R is also a nontraditional teaching salon that offers classes and seminars to meet the needs of its niche market. Ricka O'Bannon also is nontraditional. After earning an accounting degree, she decided to follow her passion for a career in the beauty industry. But in 2019, the owners needed guidance to better manage business growth. 

Solution: How the SBA Helped

Ricka and Chenica enrolled in the Louisville Small Business Development Center’s Scale Up Louisville, a 12-week strategic planning program. The SBDC is an SBA resource partner. The intensive coursework required them to examine business operations, market, competitive... Read More

Situation

Dunn Electric, LLC specializes in commercial, industrial and residential electrical installation and service, including data, fire alarm, sound, video and voice products. Founded in 2004 by Steven Dunn, the company has over 35 years of combined experience.

However, after two years in business, the company was looking for a way to better grow the business. That is when Steven connected with the Louisville Small Business Development Center.

Solution: How the SBA Helped

An SBA resource partner, the Louisville SBDC has worked with Steven since 2006 to help him understand the business side of his business, including the financial aspects, and how to leverage other resources.

Dunn Electric is a Kentucky-certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). This certification encourages growth for MBEs, helps expand their markets and allows these businesses to compete for work in other states.

The company is a client of the Kentucky Procurement... Read More

Homeless Mom Builds a Business and a New Life with SBA Programs to Help Family and Community

Situation

Christy Clark spent years as a homeless single mother trying to escape an abusive relationship. She moved over 60 times in 10 years to protect herself and her children. In 2006, she moved to Bardstown and opened Christy’s Collections  and Sew It Seam with her mother and daughter.

Over the next few years and several relocations, the company evolved into Mammy’s Kitchen, a full-service restaurant and bar. The restaurant was named in honor of Christy’s grandmothers. The home cooking and family atmosphere were a hit with the local crowd as well as the tourists visiting Bardstown, a historic and charming town.

Solution: How the SBA Helped

In 2014, Christy negotiated a lease-purchase agreement for building long occupied by a local landmark restaurant. She worked with business coach Steve Heil from the Elizabethtown SBDC.... Read More

Situation

Will Rivera was an accomplished high school track and cross-country runner in Puerto Rico. Having numerous college scholarship offers, Will instead joined the U.S. Army. While serving his country, he became a certified natural running coach and ultra-marathoner. He also obtained a B.S. Degree in Leadership Management and Human Resources.  Last stationed at Ft. Knox in central Kentucky, Will retired as a First Sergeant after serving honorably for over 24 years.

Solution: How the SBA Helped

Will had a dream of turning his fitness passion into a retail store that was a “one stop hub” for running, walking and cross-training. While at Ft, Knox, he attended the Boots to Business entrepreneurial training program and worked with the University of Kentucky SBDC in Elizabethtown. The SBDC helped him develop a business plan and obtain an SBA loan in 2013. The result: a veteran-owned and family-owned business, Running Soles, LLC. Will, wife Madeline, and sons Jonathan and... Read More

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