Salter’s Distributing is a family-owned wholesale distribution company supplying gardening supplies, batteries, stationery, toys and other miscellaneous items to convenience and grocery stores from Bakersfield to Lodi.  David and Cheryl Salter are graduates of the NxLevel Course held in Clovis.  While attending the course, they became active clients of the SBDC and stated they have run out of space for their business and needed help with obtaining financing to purchase a warehouse.

The “Ruby Red Slipper” is truly a young person’s dream coming true. Adrienne Terry, just a few years out of school, had been working giving dance instruction but longed to open her own business.

City Wigs is a small retail wig and accessories store owned and operated by Helena Gibson.  Helena came to the SBDC seeking help to obtain financing to build her inventory.   Her business was successful and was consistently making a profit, but she had two serious problems:  A lack of collateral and credit issues (stemming from a bankruptcy seven years earlier).   In most cases conventional funding would be out of the question, but because of her strong track record of profitability, SBDC staff recommended that she apply for an SBA Microloan from Valley Small Business Development Corporation.  

Annabelle Chavez is an ongoing success story. An ongoing SBDC Tulare Kings client since 2004, she expanded her business and in May 2009 celebrated a ribbon cutting at new larger facility on Main Street in Visalia.

The Pachecos were able to get a $70,000 loan for the Pacheco Water Store, which opened in June, 2010 in Gonzales, CA. They were also able to get help on accounting practices from Contreras, who has considerable experience. "People need help with accounting and marketing" said Contreras.

Shawn Bakker first approached the CSUMB Small Business Development Center in February of 2010 to get assistance in recovering from the downturn his company had taken during the recession.   Like many construction companies, he was struggling with the severe slowdown of new home construction.  Mr. Bakker had just received a $20,000 line of credit and wanted SBDC assistance to increase sales and profits by bidding on higher value projects. In addition, he wanted to develop a talented team of employees to facilitate growth.

In the fall of 2009, Lindy Miller was feeling the pinch of the recession in her local specialty quilt shop.  She was wondering about her future as a business owner and what options were out there for her and her loyal customers.  When she heard of the new local Small Business Development Center in Tuolumne County hosted by the Alliance SBDC, she was immediately encouraged.  “I slept better that very night, just knowing help was available”.  Lindy scheduled an appointment and has been working closely with SBDC consultant Lee Ann Fox since that day.   

For 16 years, Candace Wiegand and her family have run Mocha Magic, a downtown Modesto coffee and sandwich shop. When she first opened the establishment, there were at most 16 other restaurants and eateries downtown. Over the years, eating establishments proliferated to over 50, including the arrival of not one but two Starbucks. Still the shop prospered. Then the Great Recession struck in 2008. Many businesses in the immediate area shrank or closed and in early 2010 Candace found her business in financial difficulty.