Small Business Assistance Corporation

RECOVERY PLACE, INC.
E. WAYNE BLAND
835 E. 65th STREET
SAVANNAH, GA 31405
(912) 355-1440

Recovery Place, Inc., an alcohol and drug treatment and rehabilitative facility serving Savannah and the Coastal Empire, was started by Mr. Wayne Bland in 1985 with three patients, a wing and a prayer and a lot of hope and determination. Mr. Bland’s intent was to provide treatment and assistance to addicts and their families, regardless of insurance, residency and financial status. Recovery Place, Inc. focuses on the desperate need for help of the addict and the people willing to stand by that person as treatment is received.

Recovery Place, Inc. began operations seeing patients and providing group therapy in a small rental unit on the Southside of Savannah. Mr. Bland has grown the business to over 7,000 patients and to include the oversight of Drug Court Programs, DUI Court Programs and the Savannah Behavioral Health Collaborative. With the addition of patients and programs, Recovery Place, Inc. has also tripled its staff and still has a need for addition staff to successful oversee the Health Collaborative Program. This increase in staff and services posed a problem for the business – a shortage of space.

Mr. Bland contacted his bank, The Savannah Bank, with a request to purchase a new building into which he could move his current and expanded operation. The Savannah Bank suggested an SBA 504 loan to minimize the amount of the down payment and to provide 20 year fixed rate financing. Mr. Bland worked with SBAC to obtain SBA approval – which was received in October 2002. Recovery Place, Inc. purchased three condominium units in the heart of the medical district and immediately began renovating the units to suit their purposes. Construction on the new facility was completed in the late Spring, early Summer of 2003. The new facility opened with an expanded staff of professionals offering their expertise to individuals, the court systems, and the health collaborative.

Recovery Place, Inc. stands ready to help addicts and their families lead healthy fulfilling lives. If you want a life affirming experience, stop by the new facility and talk with Mr. Bland about his successes – they are truly inspiring!

UPCHURCH THERAPY & WELLNESS, PC
APRIL UPCHURCH
P.O. BOX 3743
SAVANNAH, G 31414
(912) 598-8557 / (912) 220-9569

April Upchurch started Upchurch Therapy & Wellness, PC in 1999 in order to provide physical therapy services in the fitness club of one of the premier golf clubs and communities in Savannah – The Landings Club. April succeeded in opening her business and becoming established as a provider of physical therapy services. April’s success at The Landings Club has led to other golf communities seeking her business services for their patrons.

April, excited about the possibility of opening satellite locations in other golf communities, contacted her bank, BB&T, and the local SCORE chapter to begin the process of expanding her business. Through SCORE, April prepared an expansion plan and projections for the existing operation and the satellite office. BB&T referred April to SBAC for packaging of the loan request for SBA.

April worked with SBAC and BB&T to get the Low Doc loan packaged and submitted to SBA. The loan was approved and funded by the bank. April has taken on a partner - Hollye McAdams – to assist in providing the physical therapy services to The Landings Club members as well as the new members of other golf communities. The ability to expand the business has given April the room to spread her wings and begin flying.

Watch for Upchurch Therapy & Wellness in the golf communities around Savannah – at the rate she’s going, April will be providing physical therapy services at all of them (and Florida and South Carolina, too!) in no time!

GALLERY ESPRESSO
JULIANNE DAVIS
234 BULL STREET
SAVANNAH, GA 31401
(912)2335348

Ms. Julianne Davis managed Gallery Espresso since 1994 and purchased the business in October, 1996. Located at 6 East Liberty, directly across from the Desoto Hilton, the basement coffee shop had become a landmark for local businessmen, downtown residents and SCAD students. Gallery Espresso is the oldest coffeehouse in the Historic District and has been repeatedly voted “Best Coffeehouse” in Connect Savannah.

An opportunity was presented to Ms. Davis that she could not pass up. She was given the chance to move her business to a larger space just around the corner at 234 Bull St., the corner space on Bull and Perry Streets looking out to Chippewa Square. She was hesitant in changing what she felt was a trademark, the cozy basement feeling space with a fireplace but felt she could incorporate much of the Galley Espresso identity in a new location. The ground level location would increase visibility dramatically and Ms. Davis would have windows that open to allow an “open air” feel with tables located inside and outside on the sidewalk. The glass façade will also be a bright space during the evening hours.

She approached SBAC, who had helped her buy Galley Espresso in 1996 and asked for help in making this new dream come true. SBAC put together a low doc package and shopped it to several banks. Bank of the South agreed to fund the request using an SBA Low Doc loan. Gallery Espresso is now open and has, as a reporter wrote, “the best view of any restaurant in Savannah.”

Current products are coffee and teas, prepared specialty drinks, light fare breakfast foods and locally prepared desserts. Limited amount of whole coffee beans and imported teas by the tin are also available. Gift ensembles of related tea and coffee items are available. Wireless connection to the internet is available throughout the shop.

ADVERTISING SPECIALITIES
DIANA MORRISON
402 E. MONTGOMERY CROSSROADS
SAVANNAH, GA
(912)920-4901
www.adspecialtyservices.com

Diana Morrison has worked her business selling advertising promotional items for 17 years, most recently from a small office on Montgomery Crossroads. The opportunity came to purchase a site on Montgomery Crossroads not far from her original location and she quickly purchased the land and began construction on a building built to her specifications. Unanticipated costs quickly depleted her contingency funds and Diana asked Ron Weller of BB&T if he could help.

Mr. Weller approached Small Business Assistance Corporation to see what could be crafted together. Staff at the SBAC decided that the request was ideal for a Small Business Capital Fund loan which is underwritten by SBAC. The Capital Fund is funded by a group of local banks that have formed a pool of funds that can be tapped when needed by the member bank. The bank bringing the loan request to the Fund must loan fifty percent of the request and the Capital Fund supplies the rest.

In this case the SBAC was also providing a CDBG guaranty to the loan from BB&T to Advertising Specialties. The loan request was presented to both the Small Business Assistance Corporation loan committee and the Capital Fund loan committee and both readily agreed that the project would take Mrs. Morrison and her business to the next level. The additional funds allowed the project to be completed and Advertising Specialties is now open at 402 E. Montgomery Crossroads.

LOVE’S DAYCARE CENTER
LORINE AND DEWITT LOVE
503 DENMARK STREET
STATESBORO, GA 30458
(912) 764-5860

Lorine started Love’s Daycare 14 years ago after realizing that her opportunity to advance to a Supervisor at a sewing factory in Statesboro, GA was limited. But, Lorine saw a business opportunity unfold right before her eyes. She noticed that several co-workers were looking for a structured childcare facility in which to leave their children, instead of with family members and friends. Lorine left her job of 13 years with the intention of filling that need.

She used profit sharing from her factory job to help pay for the equipment and supplies that she and her husband needed to start a day care business. They opened with three children, the maximum allowed without a license at that time. They saw a growth opportunity in this industry which led them to add a new room onto their home; Lorine enrolled in childcare classes and made necessary arrangements to be licensed by the State of Georgia to keep 18 children.

After reaching full capacity, the Loves applied for a micro loan to remodel a building they purchased two years earlier. SBAC referred them to the Georgia Southern Small Business Development Center where Lori Durden assisted Lorine with writing her business plan. SBAC made a MicroLoan to the Loves for this project. After the remodeling is complete, she will double her current capacity and hire one full time and one part-time employee, giving her 3 employees total. “The MicroLoan has played a big part in completing our second building,” says Lorine.

Lorine, her staff and the children welcome your visit, and tell them that SBAC sent you.