Borrowers’ Stories
Hear from Loan Recipients
Watch the videos below to hear from Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund loan recipients about why they applied and how the loan has benefitted their organization.
Small State Provisions
Learn how Kevin Masse, owner of Small State Provisions, was able to use loan funds from the CT Small Business Boost Fund to support expansion of his organic bakery and open a café location in Avon.
STAMFORD Family YMCA
BOOST FUND’S QUICK PROCESS HELPED STAMFORD YMCA THROUGH PANDEMIC
Founded in 1861, Stamford Family YMCA is one of the oldest YMCAs in the country and provides a variety of services to the surrounding community. However, many of these services were put in jeopardy by the pandemic in March of 2020. Paying customers stopped going to the gym and the pool, and those activities help provide the funding needed to provide after-school care and day camp for kids. When Stamford YMCA’s leadership heard about the Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund, they thought it sounded too good to be true. Click on the video to learn how the Boost Fund’s quick application process and fund disbursement allowed the YMCA to keep the lights on and avoid disruptions in operations and payroll.
VASE Management
COMPANY SECURES BOOST FUND LOAN TO DEAL WITH RISING CONSTRUCTION COSTS
VASE Management is a construction management and real estate development company based in New Haven, CT. Founder and president Vincencia “Vee” Adusei, who was born in Ghana, is the only female, minority, and section 3 business construction manager in Connecticut. During the pandemic, Adusei saw that rising material costs and gas prices increased the cost of everything in the construction industry. She credited the Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund for its painless application process and a quick one-month turnaround time. Click on the video to hear Adusei’s story and how the Boost Fund allowed VASE Management to bid on and immediately secure several larger projects that increased the company’s competitiveness by 40%.
Lil’ Sunshine Home Daycare
HOME DAYCARE EXPANDING TO SECOND LOCATION WITH BOOST FUND ASSISTANCE
The Lil’ Sunshine Home Daycare in Bridgeport, CT, is a 24-hour child-care facility that has been in operation for 16 years. Owner Kamara Moodie received business support services that helped her navigate the challenges of running a small business. Her advisors with the Connecticut Small Business Development Center made sure she was loan-ready before applying for the Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund, streamlining the process and making sure she had her financial documents in order. Once ready to apply, Moodie worked with Pursuit, one of the community lenders supporting the program, to secure her loan. Click on the video to hear how Moodie plans to expand her business to a second location with her Boost Fund loan.
Point Transportation & Logistics
BOOST FUND HELPS TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS DIG OUT FROM HIGH-INTEREST LOAN
Point Transportation and Logistics’ story illustrates just how important a flexible, low-interest loan can be to a small business in need. In 2021, Chaquanzha Stephenson left a career in HR and launched Point Transportation in Milford, CT. After a successful first year, she decided to scale the company and add a second commercial vehicle to her fleet. Unfortunately, the truck was a lemon: It cost over $30,000 in out-of-pocket repairs, and it meant that she wasn’t bringing in projected revenue. She took her first business loan. Quick capital that came with a high-interest rate and a lien on her company. Business counseling and financial assistance through the Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund helped turn a negative situation into something great.
YJ Cleaning & Maintenance
CLEANING COMPANY, BOOST FUND PARTNER TO MEET GROWING DEMAND SINCE PANDEMIC
YJ Cleaning & Maintenance has been providing janitorial, construction clean-up and other services in and around the Hartford area since 2016. When the pandemic hit, Willie Jones’s company was more in demand than ever, especially when he added COVID decontamination as a service. But that would require a larger staff to meet demand, and more capital and resources. Jones was connected to the Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund through the nonprofit Minority Construction Council. He opted to receive free financial support services through the Fund. With a loan, YJ Cleaning has been able to maintain payroll, expand its scope and purchase cargo vans that can more comfortably transport a growing staff to areas beyond the company’s original reach.
Ready to Apply?
Complete the 13 questions in the pre-application to find out if you are eligible for a loan. Eligible applicants will be connected with a community lender.