Borrower Success Stories
Up one levelRead stories about some of Self-Help's most successful 504 borrowers
Ashtae Products Inc.
This wife and husband team launched Ashtae Products over ten years ago by taking out an SBA 504 loan, a mortgage on their house and even borrowing from loyal customers.
Carolina Mattress Guild
“The fire that nearly destroyed our plant was horrible tragedy we barely survived, but something like that makes you really go back and work hard. Using an SBA 504 loan to finance our new building was key to our recovery” -- Neal Grigg, President
City Cafe & Unique Systems
This SBA 504 loan helped transform an eyesore into a small-town anchor and sparked a retail renaissance.
Encore Sporthorse Dressage Training Center
“My business has doubled. I have 15 horses in full training now, which is a phenomenal increase in business due to the quality of facility we were able to buy. --Susie Wiedman, Owner
Native Angels Home Care
“A lot of people said we wouldn’t make it – ‘it’s a fly-by-night operation’ – but we’re flying high now.” -- Lesa Jacobs, Native Angels
Shimar Recycling: Conserving Natural Resources One Small Business at a Time
In 1997 recycling educator Meredith Marley was only in her mid-20s and had no thoughts of becoming a business owner. She now heads up Shimar Recyling in Durham, NC, a thriving non-hazardous waste recycling coordinator for small businesses.
The Fila Academy
“Our philosophy is that when you hit a roadblock in the way of a worthwhile objective you can either look for an escape or a solution. We found our solution in the SBA 504 loan program.”
Loftin & Co. Printers
Charlotte's oldest printing company has weathered wars and the Great Depression without missing a single payroll. Now in its third Loftin family generation, the company financed new printing presses and folding machines with an SBA 504 loan.
The Freelon Group
If you've ever gone to a Charlotte Bobcats game or visited one of the new Durham County libraries, then you've seen the work of Philip Freelon.
Best Friends Bed & Biscuits
Nora Doran has more than 30 years experience of running and managing kennels, but it was always her life-long dream to run one of her own.
The Light Source
“At first, concerns about the paperwork I thought were required to take out an SBA 504 Loan overwhelmed us, but that ended up not being the case at all – Self-Help did all the paperwork.” --Eric Von Fange, co-owner
Eastwood Office Maintenance
When a big storm in 2005 dumped $8,000 worth of water damage that insurance didn’t cover on Elwood Garner’s furniture inventory, he decided it was time to make a move.
Pembroke Hardware
"We had three different financing options to consider but realized we needed to use the SBA 504 program to make the deal feasible." Lindsay Locklear, General Manager
Bright Beginnings Christian Center
This childcare center is meeting the needs of the Goldsboro community by offering smaller teacher-to-child ratios, more equipment, and a nurturing environment.
Summit Physical Therapy
husband-and-wife team Paul and Lisa Arsenault opened a business to help people in their Black Mountain, N.C., community overcome spinal and other physical ailments.

