http://www.crdc-nh.com/testimonials.html? Testimonials http://www.crdc-nh.com/testimonials.html?testimonials_id=9&module_params[name]=testimonials&module_params[mode]=default&module_params[action]=detail "I had the heart, and the desire," recalls Vincent Bianco on asked why he uprooted his family from Massachusetts and purchased Grafton Country Store which is located on the rail trail on NH Route 4 in Grafton. On June 10, 2011 Bianco was handed the keys to the store and with no prior experience of owning a store or managing a staff, he walked through the front door with a smile on his face and the support of the Capital Regional Development Council and Franklin Savings Bank by his side. "Over a period of 18 years delivering Pepsi products to store owners in Massachusetts, I realized I wanted to do what they were doing. I liked the idea of being independent, even though the risks are there." Vincent or 'Vinnie' as his customers call him works alongside his wife Dhana at their store where you can buy groceries, purchase gas and bring home freshly baked bread. "We spend more time together now, than we did when I was working for someone else. This is our dream - and this is also our challenge," says Bianco. CRDC was introduced to the Bianco's through Franklin Savings Bank as a gap financing partner. "We are a great resource not only for the customers but especially for the local Banks," said Jennifer Boulanger, CRDC loan officer. "We provide the necessary gap funding that is often needed to close the loan. The Biancos were great to work with and you could tell at the closing they were more than ready to open their store. This loan was a successful effort between CRDC and Franklin Savings Bank." "The entire process once we decided we were buying was clearly explained to us," says Bianco. "Both CRDC and Franklin Savings Bank worked together and explained the process; from financials needed to the appraisal to the closing and everything in between. The day we closed the loan, and walked into our store was one of the proudest moments of my life." en-us $date http://www.crdc-nh.com/testimonials.html?testimonials_id=8&module_params[name]=testimonials&module_params[mode]=default&module_params[action]=detail FiberNext partners, Ryan Irving and Craig Bowden are calling Concord, Home Sweet Home after an exhaustive search to relocate their business for their fast growing fiber optic business. FiberNext’s unique business model provides a wide variety of both technical services, custom manufactured products and materials distribution needs for companies across the United States. With 17 full time employees, space was tight in their previous location says Irving, “We were elbow to elbow, tripping over one another. Today we have more than 7,000 sq ft and we are using it all.” Finding their current location on Locke Road took more than a year, but after one look at the property they knew it would be their company’s headquarters. “The MLS came in on a Saturday afternoon from Jody Keeler our commercial realtor at Concord Reality, and by Tuesday morning we had an offer on the table.” “Originally CRDC was going to purchase FiberNext’s building,” says Stephen Heavener, CRDC Executive Director. “Irving and Bowden wanted us to finance the property and lease it back to them with an exit strategy. In addition to our traditional financing we do offer our customers the ability to become our real estate tenants, but FiberNext’s balance sheet was so strong by the time they found this property, the deal changed with CRDC funding 40% through a traditional 504 loan. “We had a great working relationship with CRDC,” says Irving. All loans are a lot of paperwork, but CRDC gave us a checklist and kept us organized on what we needed to provide. It was seamless between CRDC and Citizen’s Bank. We will definitely be working with CRDC again this year as we continue to grow –this time, we’re looking at new equipment. For more information about FiberNext visit http://www.fibernext.com/     Photo: Ryan Irving, partner at FiberNext en-us $date http://www.crdc-nh.com/testimonials.html?testimonials_id=7&module_params[name]=testimonials&module_params[mode]=default&module_params[action]=detail “As a business owner, I’m taking a risk – that’s part of being in business.” Ireland native, and owner of Irish Electric, Darragh Madden left his homeland eleven years ago and moved to New Hampshire to start a family, not a business. “I was a business owner when I left Ireland,” Darragh said. “I thought I didn’t want the responsibility of owning another business when I came here. But after a few years of working for another electrical company, I realized I missed the challenge of owning my own business.” Today, Darragh has 12 full-time employees and owns and operates Irish Electric from a 5,000 sq ft office building in Hopkinton that he purchased with financing assistance through Capital Regional Development Council and Franklin Savings Bank. “I started off like many entrepreneurs – from my home. As my family grew so did my business. I realized I needed to separate business from personal so I moved my company from my house and started leasing office space. I would drive by this building where I am today, and dream of owning this property. It has the New England charm I love so much.” Darragh was able to make that dream a reality. “When I first met Darragh I knew right away he was a hard working business owner with a strong work ethic,” said Liz Sweeney, CRDC Senior Loan Officer. “We often meet our customers through referrals from local banks like Franklin Savings Bank. Darragh was in need of gap funding and we were able to provide what he needed to complete the financing process.” “You need somebody to believe in you too,” said Darragh. “I was going from renting to owning an entire building. Lenders need to take the risk too. I left a large bank to get the customer service I needed to pursue my business goals. I wanted financing partners that took the time to know my business and care about my success as a ‘local’ business.” “Working with both CRDC and Franklin Savings Bank was not a stressful process. The financing was the easiest part,” said Darragh. “Together they took the time to get to know me and my business needs. The financing was the easiest part and CRDC was there to help me with the funding I needed to close the loan. When I take the next step in growing my business I will certainly call Liz at CRDC.” en-us $date http://www.crdc-nh.com/testimonials.html?testimonials_id=6&module_params[name]=testimonials&module_params[mode]=default&module_params[action]=detail Jennifer Boulanger’s diligence and knowledge of the products and resources made a difference in closing the deal on an SBA 504 opportunity in partnership with Northway Bank – Thank You Jennifer ! en-us $date http://www.crdc-nh.com/testimonials.html?testimonials_id=5&module_params[name]=testimonials&module_params[mode]=default&module_params[action]=detail The Capital Regional Development Council was creative in packaging a deal with First Colebrook Bank where traditional funding programs were not available. en-us $date http://www.crdc-nh.com/testimonials.html?testimonials_id=4&module_params[name]=testimonials&module_params[mode]=default&module_params[action]=detail When our business needed to vacate the building that we were leasing, on a very short notice ( 3 months), we had to acquire a larger building and needed to do so in a timely fashion. We contacted CRDC for immediate help, we found a building located in Newport N.H. and with a combination of bank & SBA 504 financing, we were on our way to getting the deal done. CRDC was also able to provide an even greater contribution towards our equity requirements, allowing our business to preserve necessary working capital for the business expansion. Our experience with CRDC has been over a six year period and we have found them to be more than helpful with most all of our needs and concerns. They helped us find and contact the right people and departments to get this major project completed in a very short time. Thank you to all the great people at CRDC.   en-us $date http://www.crdc-nh.com/testimonials.html?testimonials_id=3&module_params[name]=testimonials&module_params[mode]=default&module_params[action]=detail In 2010, in putting together the financing for the redevelopment of a downtown Concord site, for a new six story, 85,000 sf building, which will serve as the site of a medical office building and the home of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, we were in need of funding for site work and up-front soft costs, which were critical to getting to closing on the $18.5 million financing. With a history of dedication to the development of the Concord Opportunity Corridor, CRDC offered a short term financing package, without which the Sanel Block Redevelopment could not have moved onto the final closing. CRDC was vital in completing the project. en-us $date