Small Business Recovery Stories

SBA Loans Help Wisconsin Entrepreneurs

WAUSAU, Wisc. – In 2001, Deborah and Richard Mohelnitzky started Alphabet Soup Child Care to fill a need in Wausau. It was housed in a rented building with two classrooms. In 2007, Debbie and Richard obtained a $50,000 SBA 7(a) loan to purchase a new building. With the newer larger building, Alphabet Soup increased the number of children they could accommodate from 20 to 70. They also increased their workforce from four

Deborah Mohelnitzky

employees to 16 and expanded their hours to cover evening shifts. “Without this loan from SBA, they may have been without a business,” said Deborah. “SBA allowed them to grow the business, employ more people and provide more services.”

This year, Debbie and Richard are starting a boer goat farm called Sandy Hill Acres and once again, turned to the SBA for assistance. In April 2009, they obtained a $25,000 SBA Express loan to refurbish an old barn for the farm to allow them to have indoor facilities for goats and better birthing areas. Deborah and Richard hope to eventually sell off their childcare business and retire as goat farmers.