NORTH CANTON, OH―Crowl Marketing|Creative recently paid off a revolving loan from the former Stark Development Board Finance Corporation (SDBFC) to remodel its offices at 713 S. Main St., North Canton.
The SDBFC Revolving Loan Fund, which has been replaced, was established to fill financial gaps within the conventional lending community for small growing firms and assist in keeping jobs in Stark County. Firms that need funding today can apply for SBA 504 and Ohio Regional 166 loans through a partnership with Stark Economic Development Board and HCDC, Inc.
Crowl’s president, Rod McGregor, used the loan to remodel the exterior of a 100-year-old home on South Main Street into an updated commercial building that currently houses the ad agency and its 13 employees. The building formerly served as the parsonage for the Zion United Church of Christ a few blocks away.
“We were referred to Stark Economic Development Board by the city of North Canton, which wanted to keep us in the city,” said McGregor, who initially was considering moving the company to Hudson, OH.
“While the interior of the building was in excellent shape, the exterior had not been maintained and needed vinyl siding, insulation and windows for energy efficiency; the interior was transformed into an atmosphere conducive for clients and employees,” McGregor said. “We basically took a century home and made it into a nice-looking commercial building.”
Crowl Marketing|Creative has grown in both sales and employment over the past five years. Today the company has 13 employees and provides marketing communications services to a growing list of local, regional and national firms.
Earlier this year SDBFC merged with HCDC, Inc. of Cincinnati, which is now offering the SBA 504 and Ohio Regional 166 loan programs to help small businesses in community through a partnership with Stark Economic Development Board. For more information, visit www.hcdc.com or call Jeff Hasapis, director of HCDC’s East Central Ohio Regional Loan Office, at 330-806-9820 or email jhasapis@hcdc.com.