Economic Council awards first Lakes Region Job Start Fund loan to Alton woman

Marsha Snow of Alton recently closed on a loan from Belknap County Economic Development Council (BCEDC) which will allow her to build her fledgling cleaning business.

Established early in 2008, Marsha’s Magic Broom provides professional cleaning services to a mix of commercial and residential clients in the Lakes Region. This small but growing business currently employs two and tailors its services to suit client need for a daily, weekly, or bi-weekly schedule.

Snow has more than a decade of experience managing small businesses, training and scheduling employees, supervising a staff, and maintaining accurate business records.

The loan, the first Lakes Region Job Start Fund loan awarded by the Council, will provide Snow the working capital necessary to build and train her staff, market her services to new clients, and better serve her existing client base. BCEDC Executive Director Jennifer Boulanger explained that the Lakes Region Job Start Fund is one of two micro enterprise loan programs offered by the BCEDC. The Fund provides up to $15,000 in financing to Belknap County start-up and small businesses in which the borrower is self-employed or a sole proprietor. Businesses must demonstrate inability to obtain sufficient funding from banks or other conventional financing sources, and the borrower must meet income guidelines based on median income criteria for Belknap County.

“Marsha was an ideal candidate for this loan program,” Boulanger said. “Not only is she hard-working, responsible, well organized, and committed to running a small business with the highest business standards but her loan application was supported by the glowing recommendations of satisfied customers, former employers, and personal references. The Belknap County Economic Development Council is proud to be able to help small business owners of the determination, professionalism, and business acumen of Marsha Snow.”

The BCEDC serves businesses and organizations throughout the 11 municipalities in Belknap County. It offers a range of support and technical services, in addition to the Revolving Loan Fund. Its offices are housed at the Lakes Venture Resource Center at Southern New Hampshire University – Laconia Center, 2 Airport Road, Gilford, N.H. Contact 603-524-3057 or www.bcedc.org for more information about the organization’s services. Visit www.liveworkandplaynh.com for more information about the region.