With a solid business plan and vision in hand, Dawson sought out financial partners to help him implement his dream. He attributes the successful financial strategy of this project to Greenwoods State Bank and Business Lending Partners (BLP), Racine County Economic Development Corporation’s (RCEDC) financial specialty area.

“They [BLP] have their fingers on the pulse of what resources are available, how commercial banking works and how to structure projects in a seamless way,” Dawson said. “Most importantly, they know how to work with public officials to accomplish shared goals and support business growth.”

Dawson successfully applied for and received grant dollars from the Burlington Matching Grant Program (MGP), which was designed to assist development that furthers the goals and objectives of the City of Burlington’s Strategic Plan (burlington-wi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1352/Burlington-Strategic-Plan-2016-2019).

The main element driving Dawson’s concept is the promotion of business collaboration that increases foot traffic in downtown Burlington. Dawson believes starting multiple businesses will have an impact on other retail opportunities and increase activity for other businesses in Burlington’s historic loop.

“We spent a long time deciding how to provide big-city amenities to our bustling small town, without compromising the quaint atmosphere that attracted us all here in the first place,” Dawson said. “Other business owners should contact BLP because the application process was easy, they have the interests of our communities in mind, and they want to invest in small towns like ours to promote small businesses.”