Stories Archive

New Hampshire native Lucie LaPlante Villeneuve is passionate about her work.

“When I see moose feeding in the water near my kayak or rustling bushes on a trail, I know I have the best job in the world,” said the MicroCredit-NH member, who offers custom guided adventures through her business, Outdoor Escapes New Hampshire.

In 2003, Lucie registered her business as a limited liability company (LLC), and immediately built her own website, which has attracted customers from as far away as Israel, Panama and Switzerland. She has been working full-time in the business for several years, developing a strong customer base from web traffic, word-of-mouth referrals, cross-marketing promotions with other MicroCredit-NH members, memberships in Chambers of Commerce, and press releases – which she learned to write in a MicroCredit-NH workshop.

“MicroCredit-NH really motivates me,” Lucie said. “The regional managers are so resourceful, the educational workshops and the idea sharing during group meetings are great.”

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Keith and Laura Lynch
North Star Painting and North Star Web Services in Berlin
MicroCredit-NH Business Group: Valley Ventures

Thanks to teamwork that seems to be a family trademark, both Keith and Laura Lynch of Berlin operate thriving businesses sharing the same name: North Star.  Laura’s newly launched business, North Star Web Services, specializes in website design, hosting, databases and graphic design services.  Keith’s 20-year-old business, North Star Painting, offers exterior and interior house painting. 

Powerful $500 Loans

Keith and Laura have each taken $500 loans through MicroCredit-NH.  Laura’s paid for local newspaper advertising and a business phone line.  She reports the loan process wasn’t as difficult as she had imagined, as she’d been bookkeeping the correct way (as a result of Tutorials) for several months prior to the applications.

“It was a good experience because we had to convince our peers we needed the money, and I discovered I had flaws in my plan.  The group helped me find other ways to use the money – the business line was a suggestion from a member,” said Laura. " I wouldn't have been able to do any advertising without the loan. Most microbusinesses don't have $500 sitting around.

Keith suffered a shoulder injury and couldn’t continue his strict, old-world style of the “paint, pot and brush” technique.  Realizing he had to “change or fold,” Keith’s loan paid for a spray gun he uses to apply paint and back-brush it. 

Keith credits the loan process and feedback from his group for making him more open to change.  “I value the viewpoints of my group members very highly,” he said.  “The fact that we have different businesses isn’t important.  We put our ideas together and it helps out considerably.”

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Dan Bishop
Nature’s Way Gutter Systems, Dover, NH
MicroCredit-NH Group: Empowered Entrepreneurs

The third time is a charm.

But in the case of Dan Bishop, the first and second times were too.

He’s received three loans from MicroCredit-NH in as many years. From the first loan of $500 for a trade show fee to the latest of $5000 for new equipment and modifications to his truck, his business, Nature’s Way Gutter Systems, has skyrocketed in clients and reputation.

“Three years ago, people blew me off, “said the 46-year-old, a former construction worker whose 18-year-old son, Dan, Jr., helps him install the covered, self-cleaning roof gutters. “Now, my business has taken on a life of its own. I’ve gotten so many calls in such a wide radius, that I’ve stopped advertising over such a wide range.”

“Dan is such a fine example of what $500 can do to leverage a business,” said Rob Riley, director of Micro-Credit-NH, a program started by the Loan Fund in 1996.

Dan was unable to borrow money through traditional channels because of a poor credit history which, he says, stemmed from a messy divorce. “I heard that with Microcredit, my credit would not matter.”

He joined a Dover-based Micro-Credit-NH borrowers’ group, named by them, the “Empowered Entrepreneurs,” which includes a potter, a pet care vendor, candle makers, a baker of dog snacks and a poet. The group, which provides support, shares Micro-Credit-NH tutorials and decides collectively on member requests for loans, was invaluable to Dan.

“The most important part for me has been the brainstorming and sharing what works and doesn’t work,” said the father of five children.

“Micro-Credit gave me a second chance to prove myself,” he said. “I’ve been pretty fortunate. The work has come my way.”

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Wendy Walter
Owner of Voice of Clay, Portsmouth, NH
MicroCredit-NH Group: Empowered Entrepreneurs

Wendy Walter’s pottery business took shape three years ago in Portsmouth.

“I was in the midst of a divorce and had a two and a four-year old to support; so it was time to make a living at what I loved. I hocked my wedding ring and bought a kiln and a wheel, and I was in business.”

Not long after, Wendy became a member of the “Empowered Entrepreneurs” a MicroCredit-NH peer group. She was able to borrow $3,000 to buy glazing equipment and help launch a new product line. Later, she accessed $5,000 for materials to meet new export orders to Ireland. Through this process Wendy was able to build credit and recently accessed traditional bank financing for the business as it continues to grow.

Wendy offers this advice for those starting out.

“Make sure it’s something you really love. Incorporate your values and be prepared to work hard.”

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Noah Elbers
Owner of Orchard Hill Breadworks, East Alstead, NH
MicroCredit-NH Group: Voyagers

Noah Elbers makes bread the old-fashioned way—in a single-chamber, wood-fired brick oven that traces its roots to the ancient Egyptians. His business supplies fresh whole grain breads, pastries, granola, pizza, focaccia, entrees, soups, dip and pesto to clients in southwestern New Hampshire. He says members of his MicroCredit-NH group, Voyagers, gave him a sounding board to try out ideas and hone his goals.

Since he joined MicroCredit-NH in 2001, he has built the stone oven, upgraded his kitchen, increased his product line of baked goods and tripled his sales. He credits his MicroCredit-NH peer group, the Voyagers, with “good advice that has directly influenced the way I’ve built my business.”

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Ken Brisson knows the difficulties that any self-employed person may encounter. His business dream was to start selling the honey-berry toppings his grandfather made that Ken enjoyed as a child. However, a nationwide outbreak of a disease fatal to bees almost stopped his Honey Berry Farm before it started. A divorce damaged his credit rating, adding to his woes.

Ken joined MicroCredit-NH in hopes of obtaining some cash for his business. MicroCredit-NH lent Ken $500 with no credit check and required no collateral. The loan allowed Ken to buy five bee hives, and he used an additional loan to buy jars for his honey-berry topping production. MicroCredit-NH reports to the credit bureau, helping its members build—or repair—their credit histories.

Today, Ken is borrowing more than the $5,000 maximum from MicroCredit-NH. In other words, he has become a good credit risk once again. Ken is still a member of a local group, Future Fortunes, which meets monthly in Rochester and provides Ken with the support mechanism and business skills training he needs. His group includes a florist, a drywall contractor, and a woman who sells customized children’s books. For newcomers to MicroCredit-NH, Ken is a success story to whom they can look for information.

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Mary Ann Cimino, a stained glass artist, has lived in the Littleton area for the past 20 years. A decade ago, a fire devastated her business. Recently, she decided to get back into business. She worked with WREN (Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network) in Bethlehem, and more recently with MicroCredit-NH.

“I’ve always enjoyed making stained glass and I joined MicroCredit-NH to rebuild my business,” said Mary Ann. “When our store burned to the ground, I saw my whole life melt away. We lost everything—the stained glass pieces that melted, all our supplies, our patterns, everything.”

“With my first $500 loan from MicroCredit-NH, I bought supplies, business cards and a woodstove to heat the garage so I can make stained glass year round. My business loan group, called WRENa$ense, is an informal and helpful network. I already knew some of the group members when I joined.”

“Even though our store has been closed for all this time, I still get a lot of word-of-mouth referrals. As I rebuild the business, I intend to focus on restoration and repair, and I’d like to offer lessons. I’m doing repair work for several local churches, including the Church of Epiphany in Lisbon and All Saints Church in Littleton. I also sell pieces at several local stores.”

“As someone who was a business owner for many years, I strongly recommend MicroCredit-NH to other business owners. It’s a great way to establish business credit and learn bookkeeping and the other skills you need to own your own business.”