I'm ready to go back home -- leave the rat race in the city and return to my small town home.  After 30 years of working for someone else, I want to get back to a simpler, less stressful life.  I have a business opportunity in my home town, which is only about 100 miles from my current home. 

A locally owned grocery store that had been in operation for nearly 70 years has closed down.  No one in the family wants to continue the tradition of running the store.  This store sits on a town square and is convenient to elderly folks, people without transportation, and those who choose not to shop at the "big-name" corporate store.  There is only one other grocer in town and it sits on the edge of the city limits, so as of March 1 the town and surrounding areas have only one local option for food shopping.  People have to pay the prevailing prices at this one market and are inconvenienced at the location of the store. 

The whole town, as are most towns of small population, is in dire need of economic development. In the last couple of years, a few small locally owned business have set up shop on the square. The loss of the local grocer on the town square is a big economic loss for the town.  My intent is to become the new locally owned grocer on the town square.  This will not only bring back the convenience of grocery store to the in-town folks but will also provide between 20-30 full and part-time jobs in an area that offers little employment opportunity within the community.

I have checked into small business administration loans, but I am not comfortable with their attitude.  I may be able to get a loan but it may not cover the necessary work to get the business reopened.  I can't get a regular business loan through a bank right now because my personal debt ratio is too high.  I've never been late on payments, but my ratio just exceeds the limit set by banks.  I am hoping that with the kindness of angels, like you, I can get enough money to either: 1) pay down my personal debt so that I qualify for a business loan, or 2) use your donations as a down payment on the business and reapply for business loans through a local bank.  I'm a victim of the middle class - that is, I make a good customer for the bank as long as I'm putting my money into it, but I don't fit their elevated standards of a good customer when I ask to borrow the money.

My goal would be to raise a very significant amount as quickly as possible (mid-to-late May)so that the necessary rehabbing of the building, equipment installation, and inventory can be coordinated to get this store open by late summer or early fall.  (All of the equipment in the store was outdated and was sold off by auction by the family.)

I've been sitting on my rear end behind a desk pushing papers for too long.  I want to return to my roots and provide what I feel is a useful service to people who need and deserve it.  I would greatly appreciate any help you could give to me, and I promise I will honor your donation by paying it forward to others in need.  Thank you for reading and considering this long-winded appeal.