But Bird hoped to do more than just work for Wilmot. He planned to own it. “I saw a lot of potential in the nursery and thought I could make it one of the best garden centers in the area. So I asked the owner, Robert Wilmot about his future intentions,” says Bird.

After completing his master’s degree in agronomy at Penn State University in 2003, Bird joined the Wilmot staff, full time. For the following fiver years, Bird apprentices under and received management training from Mr. Wilmot. In 2008, Mr. Wilmot was ready to sell and Bird approached Honesdale National Bank’s vice president and commercial loan officer, Ron Sebastianelli, who referred him to MetroAction.

Through MetroAction, Bird received assistance with his budget and obtained financing to purchase his spring inventory. Today he owns the region’s largest and most comprehensive garden center, with more than 450 sizes and types of trees and shrubs and a gift shop.

Bird isn’t stopping to smell the roses just yet. With MetroAction’s help, he plans to build a new facility so Wilmot Nursery and Landscaping is “more of a destination, not just a place to shop,” and believes his budding business can rank among the top 25 garden centers in the northeast.

After being referred by Ron Sebastianelli, vice president and commercial loan officer of Honesdale National Bank, Kromko and Smith turned to MetroAction for financing options and help writing their business plan.

“HNB wanted to develop a partnership with Christine and Doug- something we could grow a relationship on, and we saw that opportunity in MetroAction’s loan programs.   I was happy to learn that they were able to assist Jake’s Carpet, a longstanding fixture in the Hamlin community,” says Sebastianelli.

MetroAction tailored a loan for Kromko and Smith that suited their needs much in the same way the entrepreneurs work with their customers to make a house a home.  Their $20,000 loan was used for working capital and to purchase new computer software.  “MetroAction believed in us as much as we believe in ourselves,” adds Kromko.

And the community is taking notice too. Jake’s was recently named 2010 Poconos’ Choice leader in carpet and flooring.

New Visions Owner Adam Weitzenkorn and Co-Founder Melanie Boisseau

Since childhood, Adam Weitzenkorn dreamed of working in the arts.

Thanks to a small business loan provided by MetroAction a big part of that dream has come true.

Weitzenkorn was approved to borrow $7,000 to help cover the costs to purchase equipment and other essentials to start up a full services art studio and gallery where customers can view and purchase artwork, collectible items and custom made crafts.

New Visions Studio & Gallery LLC also provides Weitzenkorn and co-founder Melanie Boisseau the opportunity to showcase their own artwork and offer classes for people of all ages and abilities in drawing, painting, photography, welding, and sculpting.

It was through his membership with The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce that Weitzenkorn learned about MetroAction’s loan program.  In addition to the loan, MetroAction offered the artist the opportunity to connect with a mentor through its Smart Start program and enroll in our Marketing Mastery class.

“Without MetroAction’s assistance there is no way New Visions would have been able to operate,” says Weitzenkorn.  “They provided us with a lifeline when we had nowhere else to turn, and we are very grateful.”

Weitzenkorn is looking forward to hosting many music and art events at the former car dealership he worker feverishly to transform into a studio and leading this dynamic business for many years to come.

MetroAction is the right fit for those who:

• Have a credit score of at least 500
• Have not declared bankruptcy in the past 12 months
• Have not had any late rent or mortgage payments in the past 24 months
• Are up-to-date on all bills
• Exhibit steady cash flow and the ability to support monthly loan payments
• Can provide a co-signer, if needed

MetroAction’s Loan Programs:

STEP Loan Program helps low income people improve their lives by providing access to small business loans and counseling.

Small Business Loan Program was created to provide loans to small businesses that are not able to obtain bank loans.  This program helps small business owners become “bankable” as they grow their business.

Small Business First Loan Program is designed to stimulate the expansion and assist in the retention of small businesses for the purpose of creating new jobs and retaining existing jobs in Pennsylvania.

MetroAction’s Service Area:

MetroAction primarily serves nine counties in northeastern Pennsylvania, including Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming.  However some of our programs can fund any business in any Pennsylvania County.

As a non-profit organization, MetroAction relies on community support for our small business loan, assistance, and award programs.  If you have any clients that would benefit from our programs and services, please refer them to us or call (570) 341-0270.  A MetroAction staff member will contact the referral within 24-48 hours.

If you or someone you know, is thinking about starting a business, or if you just want to learn more about managing your business, you should attend our Small Business Institute or Marketing Mastery programs.  These comprehensive training programs will help you strategically plan in your business so that you make the most of your limited budget.

If you can’t make it to our seminars, we have webcasts on topics such as, applying for a loan, submitting a loan application, writing a business plan and applying for a loan.

Be sure to checkout our small business planning guide and checklist to get you started in the right direction. We have helpful information available about required licenses, taxes, and permits for your small business, too.

Of course your new venture will require financing, so we have the tools you’ll need to do financial projections such as cash flow, break even analysis, a budget, balance sheet, and a profit and loss statement.

There is no such thing as a typical MetroAction client.  Our clients have encountered similar obstacles in accessing small business financing, from no credit history, damaged credit or needing a loan that does not meet a bank’s criteria.  And in today’s economic climate, MetroAction is helping businesses that never had a problem obtaining bank financing in the past. So if your client has not been approved for bank financing, let MetroAction take a second look.

MetroAction is the right fit for small business owners who:

• Have a credit score of at least 500
• Have not have declared bankruptcy in the past 12 months
• Have not had any late rent or mortgage payments in the past 24 months
• Are up-to-date on all bills
• Exhibit steady cash flow and the ability to support monthly loan payments
• Can provide a co-signer, if needed

Do you know any businesses that need financing?  Refer them today!

Funding can be used for start-up capital, to purchase equipment or machinery, make building improvements or for working capital.

To be eligible, at least 51% of the business must be owned by a member of the military community, including veterans, service-disabled veterans, active-duty service members eligible for the military’s Transition Assistance Program, reservists and National Guard members. Spouses of service members and widows of service members or veterans who died during service or of a service-connected disability are also eligible to apply under this program.  For more information, or for application instructions visit www.MetroAction.org or contact MetroAction staff at (570) 341-0270.

A = Access to lending! Since 1997, MetroAction has been committed to providing flexible small business loans to start-up and expanding small businesses in northeastern Pennsylvania. MetroAction is one of the only nonprofit organizations in northeastern Pennsylvania authorized to provide microloans to small businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

MetroAction specializes in working with people who cannot borrow from a bank due to lack of business experience, credit history or insufficient collateral.  To learn more about all of our funding programs, visit http://metroaction.org/loans.html.

B = Build better credit! MetroAction loans provide an opportunity for small business owners to build or rebuild personal credit history and raise credit scores.  As clients make on-time payments on their small business loans, MetroAction reports the payments to the major credit bureaus. This builds positive credit history and increases a borrower’s level of creditworthiness in the eyes of lenders.

If you need help repairing your credit, we partner you with Consumer Credit Counseling of NEPA. Together, we can help you assess your credit and make necessary changes to improve it!

C = Coaching through Smart Start! MetroAction’s Smart Start mentoring program, through an innovative collaboration with SCORE, pairs borrowers with a SCORE counselor for free one-on-one small business coaching.  Counselors can help develop various aspects of your business including:

•    Starting a business: licenses, taxes, permits, resources
•    Business plan development and review
•    Marketing
•    Financial and cash flow analysis
•    Management
•    Business operations
•    And much more!

Full details on our lending and mentoring programs can be found at http://www.metroaction.org/.

MetroAction can help!  We have unveiled our brand new webinar series designed specifically for those who want to attend seminar and training programs, but can’t make it to our on-site programs.

MetroAction has converted some of our most popular seminars to launch the webinar program.  They include:

• Business Basics
• Financing Your Business
• Marketing 101
• Applying for a Small Business Loan
• Writing a Business Plan
• Submitting Your Business Planning Templates

And, we’re planning on offering more topics this fall, such as Facebook for Beginners, Grant Writing 101 and Building Better Credit.

There is no special equipment required.  All you need is an internet connection and a phone line.  It’s really that easy!

Stay tuned for more details!

Janice Scarantion, owner of Busy Bees Learning Center

Today’s economic climate is slowing down (or even stopping!) business for many businesses.  But, not for MetroAction.  This year, we are experiencing a 243% increase in small business loan requests!  And, we’re ready to answer the call!  We have plenty of funding to lend and a streamlined application process that makes it as easy as 1-2-3 to apply for our loans.

A recent article in the NEPA Business Journal describes how MetroAction’s loan programs are a good fit for businesses that want to start or expand their business during a challenging economy.

More importantly, though, our loans are making a difference.  Just ask:

Paul Nardone
“I wanted to continue to evolve Outrageous and Anthology, and I knew I needed help. So I reached out to MetroAction.  The streamlined application process made it easy for me to obtain a loan to upgrade my equipment and take on new product lines.  And loans are only part of what MetroAction does. Their Small Business Institute has given me plenty of resources and insight for my business. MetroAction is a great resource!”
Paul Nardone, owner
Outrageous and Anthology, Scranton

Janice Scarantino
“MetroAction was a great help for us.  They didn’t just decline our loan request when they saw that we weren’t 100% prepared.  They took the time to help us develop our business plan so we could apply for financing.  We wouldn’t be here today with the counseling and guidance we received from MetroAction.”
Janice Scarantino, owner
Busy Bees Learning Center, Wyoming

Christine Kromko
“MetroAction believed in us as we believe in ourselves.  Their understanding of our needs and willingness to provide financing cannot be understated.”
Christine Kromko, partner
Jake’s Carpet, Hamlin

You’ll never know unless you apply!