Native Angels Home Care

Lending Partner: GE Capital
Location: Lumberton
Project: SBA 504 Loan to construction of new 36,000 sq.ft. headquarters building, $7.2 million
Community Impact: Rural development, Lumbee Native American woman-owned

Native Angels received the 2007 National SBA Small Business of the Year Award. This is the first time in the award's history that a N.C.-based business has won.

Sisters Bobbie Jacobs-Ghaffar and Lesa Jacobs used their more than 20 years of health and human-services experience to found Native Angels, a holistic, home-grown health care business that provides a broad range of services to southeastern North Carolina – with a focus on Robeson, Cumberland, Hoke and Scotland Counties.

Jacobs, who is a registered nurse, says “A lot of people said we wouldn’t make it – ‘it’s a fly-by-night operation’ – but we’re flying high now.”

GE Capital and Self-Help partnered in providing an SBA 504 loan to help the business construct a new building called Angel Exchange. Slated for completion in 2008, it will be located on the east side of Lumberton in a new office park the county recently developed. Along with health care services, Angel Exchange will house an urgent care service, pharmacy, spa, full-service cafeteria, chapel, and gift shop. The facility will also include a 110,000 square-foot sports complex run by the Angel Elite Sports Foundation.

 “What a great example to hold up nationally to show what communities can do when they come together…I encourage you to continue fighting for what is important – our health, our families and our future.” --U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre

A unique strength of the business stems from the Certificate of Need (CON) it holds, which has allowed them to expand their services dramatically. The N.C. Division of Health and Human Services issues and controls these certificates, and they may restrict the move of new players into these health-care fields in regard to health care that draws reimbursements from state and federal sources.

At the groundbreaking ceremony Jimmy Goins, chairman of the Lumbee tribe said, “This is not a new business venture, this is a new love venture. On behalf of the Lumbee tribe, we are so proud of you today.”

For more information about Native Angels Home Care, visit www.nativeangels.biz.