2005 SBA AWARDS: Small Business Excellence Award Winners: Light Rental Properties

CNY Business Journal (1996+), May 06, 2005

LIGHT RENTAL PROPERTIES

Owner: Kenneth D. Light

Headquarters: Syracuse

Established: 2004

Type of Business: NAPA retail store

Selected By: Bank of America

Financing: 2005 SBA 504 loan of $293,000 to purchase the Rome NAPA store and additional warehouse space

Business Profile: Ken Light owns three NAPA stores in Central New York, in Rome, Camden, and Herkimer. Light has been the owner and operator of NAPA stores for 20 years. Last year, he had an opportunity to purchase the existing retail store in Rome or move to another location. Light chose to keep the well-established business in Rome and expand his business by also purchasing the building next door to warehouse inventory. He used an SBA 504 loan through New York Business Development Center and the New York State Link Deposit Program to make the opportunity became a reality. Light employs 20 people in the three locations.