If you're in business, how's your company's curb appeal? Is your building attractive, welcoming, and capable of creating a positive first impression? Those businesses who rely on the consuming public…and especially on attracting not only hometown folks but the steady influx of the tourist trade are often, just like a book, judged by their "cover." If your business facade could use a brush up, Edgewater Bank has created special set of loan opportunities to accomplish just that.
Rick Dyer is President & CEO of Edgewater Bank, which is headquartered in St. Joseph. He has served for a number of years on the boards of key local organizations including St. Joseph Today, the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, and others. He knows the critical nature of business in the local community. That's why his team adopted branding as "The Real Local Bank" several years ago and wants to help make it more affordable for the local business community to perform facelifts and upgrades to both building exteriors and their interior floor plan as well.
Dyer has drafted a new line of business loans with special interest rates to help businesses make the improvements necessary to attract more new customers through the door.
Dyer says, “Our lakeshore and rural communities are doing a fantastic job of welcoming thousands of residents, visitors and tourists annually to our business and shopping districts.” However, he says, "As a local bank, we see the disparity in customer traffic between businesses that have street appeal and those that don’t. So we created a series of local business loans that not only help level the playing field for making positive first impressions, but also help our cities and villages create an overall fresh, vibrant look that will boost everyone’s business.”
Edgewater Bank has several business upgrade loan options. Retail shops, hotels, restaurants and many other companies can improve their building façades, signage and building accessibility through the loan programs. Money is also available for the re-development of area buildings for mixed use purposes such as main level retail and second floor apartments, parking or sidewalk rehabilitation, or other structural improvements. The loan programs assist with making facilities more energy efficient to help recipients qualify for eco-friendly tax credits or cover environmental remediation projects such as the removal of lead paint. The loan programs are available to either building owners or tenants.
To stimulate such business upgrades, the bank is offering attractive loan rates and terms. Projects up to $100,000 will be considered with a maximum term length up to 10 years, although Dyer indicates that if the project is larger, Edgewater would still like to discuss it with the business or building owner. He points out that “All of our loan decisions are made here. Local factors weigh into those decisions given the fact that we are headquartered here and the people making the decisions are local. We provide personal attention, fast response, community knowledge, and sound advice.”
Loans will be available until March 31, 2017. To learn more about the special loan program rates, terms and features, business owners or tenants can call 269-982-4175 or visit Edgewater Bank at 321 Main Street in St. Joseph or any Edgewater Bank branch in Southwest Michigan.
Edgewater was first established in 1910, and has been serving Southwest Michigan as a local community bank for over 105 years. The bank has full-service branch offices in Bridgman, Buchanan, Coloma, Royalton Township and St. Joseph. For additional information, you can also visit the Edgewater Bank website at www.edgewaterbank.com.
