Seams Like Home
Refinancing with The Progress Fund “seemed to be the simplest, the least expensive and the least involved. And it was really quick and easy then.
People
When Donna Eicher opened a quilters’ retreat, The Progress Fund loaned $280,000 and arranged $100,000 in financing from Pennsylvania’s First Industries Fund. As important, The Progress Fund gave Donna a word of advice: diversify. After all, Seams Like Home was a few miles from the Great Allegheny Passage trail and close to Falling Water, perfect for cyclists and tourists. “We need the diversity,” says Donna. “If we were depending solely on quilting retreats, we would not be in existence right now.”
Progress
To finance improvements, Donna decided to sell her former home, on which the First Industries Fund had a lien. The Progress Fund again gave its backing, refinancing the remaining $82,678 of the state’s loan.
Impact
To build on her diverse clientele, Donna is adding a partially covered fire pit and enhancing Seams Like Home’s landscaping, so outdoor-loving guests can grill or just chill even when it rains. She’s also bolstering the heating system, using eco-friendly technology, for her winter guests. By patching together a customer base, Donna has found a template for success. “I am a person who always sets my goals way too high, I’m the eternal optimist, but I never give up,” says Donna. “Each year has gotten better and better.”
The Progress Fund is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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