Last year, Deborah Johnson, while attending a networking event hosted by the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, inquired about financing options available to help expand her Flint-based security alarm company. Johnson wanted to hire another installer/technician to help with customer retention by shortening the turnaround time for service.
"If a customer has to wait too long, they'll go eventually somewhere else," said Johnson, of Citizens Statewide Security, Inc., which has been in business since 2003.
After hearing about the available programs, Johnson decided to go with a crowdfunding program, called Kiva, which provides zero-percent-interest loans for eligible entrepreneurs working to take their business to the next level.
