Small Business Assistance Corporation

ANGELA WILLIAMS
#1 PRIORITY LEARNING ACADEMY
4412 LIBERTY PARKWAY
SAVANNAH, GA 31405
(912) 306-7198

Most people breathe a sigh of relief when their children finally grow up and leave home. And they don’t dare care for any other children. Not so for Ms. Angela Williams, a mother of three, ages 2, 5 and 11. She desired to own a child care center since graduating from high school and in 2006 she became the proud owner of #1 Priority Learning Academy currently located on Liberty Parkway.

This venture started in January 2006, when Ms. Williams opened her business on Palm Avenue in a garage apartment. She was limited to six children but realized the growth potential in providing childcare. To expand her business, she and her fiancé enrolled in the Individual Development Account Program administered by EOA. While in the program, she relocated her business to 4412 Liberty Parkway in West Savannah. Upon completion of the IDA Program, she received a total of $10,000 to upgrade her new location into a group childcare where she is licensed to keep up to 18 children.

Angela offers extensive hours - from 6:30am to 7:00pm. From a standard curriculum, the children learn necessary skills needed to advance once they enroll in public school.

Though quiet, this young lady has not reached the pinnacle of her desires. Her next goal is to add a second shift to her operation. This will give her an additional 18 children to keep during the evening and night hours. Ultimately, she plans to open a non-profit community youth center.

Ms. Williams came to SBAC in December 2007 for additional funding. After utilizing her IDA funds, SBAC loaned her money she needed to complete her leasehold improvement which resulted in her increasing her enrollment from 6 to 18 children. In addition to herself, Angela has one full and one part-time employee who care for the children, whose ages range from 6 weeks to 5 years old.

BECOMING SALON, INC.
ERICA GRAVES
1 JOHNSTON STREET, SUITE 3
SAVANNAH, GA 31405
(912 692-0091

We often hear the phrase “that is becoming on you.” As defined in the dictionary, “becoming” means that which is suitable, appropriate, fit, attractive, flattering and the list goes on. When Erica Graves was deciding on a name for her business, the word “becoming” affixed itself to her mind and thus BeComing Salon, Inc was born. To her, it represents continuous action of always evolving or improving, which is what she strives to do for her guests.

This four stylist salon is housed in a split level building on Johnston Street, between White Bluff and Abercorn. In addition to offering complete hair care and the most up-to- date styles, “BeComing” also prides itself on providing a relaxing and pampering environment for it guests, which is depicted in the carefully selected mellow colors of each room. The lobby area greets visitors with seafoam green walls which radiate vibes of relaxation and inspiration. The hall hugs guests with the color taupe which relays a comfort and cozy feeling. In the styling and dryer rooms, individuals are surrounded by burnt orange offering warmth.

A salon without a television is rare, but is experienced by visitors of “BeComing” As a guest, you are encouraged to read magazines and inspirational books that take you to a world of serenity, away from that stress of daily life, work and “the tube”. The upstairs consists of one big room that is used for training and a waiting area for guests. The color scheme from the bottom floor continues to the waiting area, where guest can enjoy drinks and snacks complements of the salon.

Erica combines her love for hair care and pampering with her 17 years of experience in the cosmetology industry, both locally and nationally. She successfully owned and managed Jazziez Imaging Group on Skidaway Rd, and she was also the senior artistic designer at the Michael Alan Salon and Day Spa in York, PA.

She has also been involved in education in the cosmetology industry. She has traveled with McBride Research Laboratories – Design Essentials Products - as an Interactive Educator for over 10 years. McBride Laboratories named her educator of the year in 2000 and 2002. In 2002 she participated in a three-island educational tour to St. Thomas, St. Croix, and Tortolla.

“BeComing” is also a community oriented service salon. The staff provides outreach to battered women and children, offers gift certificates to young ladies who complete training through Department of Family and Children Services, and customizes wigs worn by cancer survivors who have undergone chemotherapy which resulted in hair loss.

SBAC partnered with Capitol City Bank to provide a five year guaranty on this loan to help Erica expand the business by purchasing equipment and inventory and paying off existing debt.

For a unique hair care experience blended with tranquility, love and relaxation, contact Erica at “BeComing” Salon Inc during the hours of 9:00 am to 6 pm – Tuesdays-Fridays and 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays.

MRS. T’S BAKED GOODS AND CATERING
TIA THOMPSON
100 EDSEL STREET
RICHMOND HILL, GA
(912 756-4226

Living in a society of quick fixes and microwaving, we often lose sight of the finer things in life, such as desserts just the way mother did it. Mrs. T’s Baked Goods and Catering takes us back to the days of homemade desserts when you bite into a piece of cake and taste not only the butter, sugar, and eggs, but also the love that was poured into it as our mothers and grandmothers measured, mixed, fold, poured, baked and magically, our favorite dessert appeared. Mrs. T does not replace home, but she does “whip up” desserts that make you want to say a bad word if the smallest crumb falls to the ground.

Mrs. T’s Baked Goods and Catering is owned by Ms. Tia Thompson in Richmond Hill, GA – Bryan County. Tia is a full time employee, but her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Harold Thompson, both retired, manage the day to day operations of the business. Usually when you call, the phone is answered by Mrs. Thompson, affectionately known as Mrs. T. Ms T has cooked and baked all of her life, and was professionally trained in home economics. For 20 years, she owned a daycare in Philadelphia where she cooked for the children, as well as sold homemade baked goods as another small business.

We cannot leave Mr. T out of the picture because he also knows his way around the kitchen. On Sunday December 9, 2007, he participated in the Sixth Annual Savannah’s 100 Celebrity Men Who Cook Cook-Off at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront where approximately 100 cooks showed off their prize dishes. Under the dessert category, Mr. Thompson or as the Savannah Herald reported, Reverend George Harold Thompson Sr. won first place with his Bourbon Pecan Pie.

This family complements each other by maximizing the individual gifts which in turns strengthen the entire business. While at home, Tia oversees the entire operation which includes cooking, delivering and all duties as assigned. Ms. T spends most of her time preparing all of those luscious desserts displaying her 50 plus years of experience. Mr. T, when not in the kitchen, is networking. They are members of the Small Business Chamber, eWomen Network and other organizations that provide outreach opportunities.

There are no limits to the desserts that can be ordered from Mrs. T’s. The choices range from the famous red velvet cake to rum, chocolate carrot and even a sock-it-to-me cake all made from “scratch” in Mrs. T’s kitchen. Small Business Assistance Corporation ordered the red velvet cake and it did not hang around the office long. As a result of that order, a second order was placed by another office within one week. If you are not a cake lover, don’t despair, homemade cookies and pies including Mr. T’s award winning Bourbon Pecan Pie are also available. The Thompson’s have landed numerous catering jobs and have received positive feedback as a result of follow-up evaluations. All of these achievements were accomplished within one year, as this business opened in 2007.

Because of the high demand, Mrs. T’s is relocating from the Thompson’s home to a storefront on Edsel Street in Richmond Hill off Hwy 144 near the Ford Plaza. SBAC provided funding for one of the refrigerators that will be housed in their new facility.

Operating hours for Mrs. T’s Baked Goods and Catering are Mon – Fri 7:30am to 6:00pm. For all catering and/or dessert needs with professional service, Mrs. T’s Baked Goods and Catering is the place to call.

CLARY’S CAFÉ
PATRICIA JAN WILSON
404 ABERCORN STREET
SAVANNAH, GA 31401
(912) 233-0402 / 351-0302

You double your pleasure when dining at Clary’s Café. First of all, you have a choice of two locations - one on Abercorn in the Historic District between Lafayette and Calhoun squares and a second on Habersham Street – a few miles away. The pleasures continue as Clary’s staff provides a combination of good food and excellent customer service that entices even the hardest critics to return again and again.

These full service restaurants are owned by Ms. Patricia Jan Wilson. Jan worked at Clary’s for 10 years prior to purchasing both locations in 2004. She started as a cashier and quickly elevated herself to general manager. Her 30 years of experience in the restaurant business is evidenced in the increased revenue and profits along with her employing 50 to 60 individuals who have worked for her from 2 to 12 years. That is quite an accomplishment in any business, but for the restaurant industry, it displays Jan’s excellent management and employee relations skills.

Clary’s uniqueness includes serving breakfast all day. Clients are not limited to creamy grits, fluffy pancakes, crisp bacon, golden brown sausage and loaded omelets until 10:00 am. One of the breakfast favorites is crab cake benedict which consists of Poached eggs, Canadian bacon and Clary’s Crab Cakes served on toasted English muffin topped with fresh hollandaise sauce with the choice of grits or breakfast potatoes.

“The Oglethorpe” is very popular for the big breakfast lovers. When placing this order, it may be advisable to request a “doggie bag” because this is guaranteed to be two meals in one. A customer will enjoy two large buttermilk pancakes, two eggs to order; bacon, sausage or pit ham, buttered grits or breakfast potatoes, toast or homemade buttermilk biscuits.

With the multi-colored awning shielding them from the sun, many of the Abercorn’s guests savor their meals on the patio. This is an excellent place to enjoy the many lunch items listed on the menu, including the daily specials. The well-liked fresh hamburgers and Ruben sandwiches are favorites for the carb lovers and the spinach and Greek salads for the weight watchers.

Benjamin Griffith and The Coastal Bank partnered with SBAC to provide funding for Jan to expand her business by purchasing equipment, inventory, furniture and fixtures and refinancing existing debt.

For a relaxing environment, great food and fantastic customer care, dine at Clary’s Café at 404 Abercorn St or 4430 Habersham St. You will not be disappointed.

SOUTHERN SOLUTIONS INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES, INC.
LORRI LANGMEIER AND DWIGHT CHANCE
1201 NORTH COLUMBIA AVENUE
RINCON, GA 31326
(912) 547-7376

“Repossession” is a word that most people don’t like, but for Lorri Langmeier and Dwight Chance, it is music to their ears. They are the owners of Southern Solutions Investigative Services, Inc (SSIS), a start-up vehicle repossession business located in Rincon, GA. It offers a full range of repossession and investigative services including involuntary and voluntary repossessions, skip-tracing, storage and transportation of seized items to auctions.

SSIS has the capability to reclaim a variety of vehicles such as cars, trucks, SUVs, rigs, motor homes and yachts for its clients, credit unions, banks and other financials institutions.

Ms. Langmeier has over 15 years of experience in the repossession industry and over three years as an investigator. As an employee, she utilized her repossession skills, but not her investigation expertise. She desired to combine both abilities which led her to open SSIS with her partner, Dwight Chance. Dwight is a graduate of Georgia Southern University with a degree in Business Administration. As both partners have basic knowledge of the other’s expertise, the weaknesses of one are overcome by the strengths of the other.

SSIS has several competitors, but has established a competitive edge that sets them apart from their competition. They have purchased A+ insurance that permits them to bid on contracts for larger more established, financial clients. Ms. Langmeier and Mr. Chance also have “state of the art” equipment which allows them to provide efficient service for their clients. They have established themselves in providing a 24 hour turn around policy. From the time a call is made, they guarantee possession of the vehicle within 24 hours as long as they are given its location. A final advantage is that they continue to receive training to improve on their services in order to stay ahead of the competition.

Office hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8:00am to 6:00pm, but the owners are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Lorri and Dwight approached SBAC requesting funds to purchase equipment and for working capital using the SBA MicroLoan program. With these proceeds, they have secured 10 clients and have several in the pipeline waiting for final decisions.