R3bi board member Greg Wilson, left, Executive Director Hank Betke, third from right, and business advisor John E. Lee present a $25,000 check from R3bi’s revolving loan fund to Turf Workz owner Kent Davis, center. Also pictured from left are Michelle Davis, Hannah Davis (front), Betke’s grandson Eadward and Emily Davis.
The Red River Region Business Incubator has awarded $25,000 from its revolving loan fund to Turf Workz Hydroseeding.
A growing business needs more workers, and Turf Workz is no exception.
“We have two full-time employees and four seasonal, part-time positions we’re looking to fill soon,” owner Kent Davis said. “Our long-term plan is to grow to six full-time employees and up to eight part time.”
The company specializes in hydroseeding and erosion control. Hydroseeders spray a slush of grass seed, mulch, water and fertilizer on soil to grow a lawn quickly and easily. Hydroseeding is cheaper than laying sod and easier than hand seeding.
“We’re really excited,” R3bi Executive Director Hank Betke said. “Turf Workz is a company that’s going to deliver a service that needs to be filled in the community.”
This is the second such loan R3bi has awarded. The first went to Taylor Mechanical & Piping Systems.
Having the revolving loan fund helps businesses grow and increase the local work force, a cornerstone of R3bi’s mission.
“It’s a real good deal,” Davis said. “It’s low interest for new businesses that don’t have a lot of cash flow for a line of credit. A business that’s been operating for 10 years can walk into a bank and show their cash flow, their capital and their collateral. A new business doesn’t have that.”
Turf Workz plans to use the funding for working capital, as well as mail-outs, brochures, signage, a website redesign and other marketing material; and inventory such as mulch, fertilizer and seed. Davis has also bought a company truck.
“We purchased a truck to take the hydroseeder off the trailer and put it on the truck and make it more mobile,” he said.
Turf Workz works with residential and commercial customers within a 120-miles radius of Lamar County. Long-term, the company plans to expand and ingrain itself within other markets, including the Texas Department of Transportation, pipeline and landfills.
Davis had originally planned to compete with local lawn maintenance businesses, which is already a crowded market place. With the incubator’s guidance, Davis was able to rework his business plan to partner with those who would have been his competitors.
“That’s one of the objectives of the incubator – to take a company’s business plan and shape it and focus it into a sustainable business,” Betke said. “We’re excited about their market approach. The immediate response has been very positive.”
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