Blinn College SBDC helps Foundation Learning Academy open new location
‘It is a great relationship,’ owner Henna Allana says
March 7, 2018
When Foundation Learning Academy owner and Brenham resident Henna Allana sought to expand her premium childcare facility in 2014, she turned to the Blinn College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to assist her throughout the journey.
Already a successful business owner, Allana established Foundation Learning Academy in Cypress in 2011 and was interested in opening a new location.
“I wanted to make a business plan and a three-year projection, and the SBDC assisted me with these things,” Allana said. “The way the SBDC put everything together for me just blew me away – they even used my logo on the cover letter.”
After looking over the research, Allana made the decision to open a new location in Houston.
“For existing businesses looking to expand, we help them obtain financing for expansion by going through all the options and terms that may be available from different lenders, whether it be a conventional business loan or a government Small Business Administration (SBA) loan,” said Matthew Wehring, SBDC Director. “We worked with Brenham National Bank for her loan, and we were able to use the SBA 504 loan program that provided a significant advantage to both the bank and client.”
Blinn’s SBDC offers a variety of services to local and potential business owners in Washington, Colorado, and Austin counties to assist them in starting a new business or expanding an existing business at no cost.
“We help businesses start-up by figuring out the feasibility of a new business and assist with financial loan options, while taking care of all the marketing needs from building a website to designing a slogan or logo,” Wehring said. “We can also put together brochures, business cards, marketing posters, and work on a variety of projects depending on the needs of the owner or potential owner.”
The SBDC specializes in working with banks like Brenham National Bank, helping business owners obtain loans. Last fiscal year, the SBDC worked with 85 companies, including 13 new businesses, and obtained $5.3 million in loans, helping to create 82 new jobs.
“We enjoyed working with SBDC on the Foundation Learning Academy project. The quality of their work was exceptional, and they were very responsive to our needs,” said Tee Dippel, Brenham National Bank President and CEO. “The SBDC provides a valuable resource to this area, and we look forward to working with them on future projects.”
Foundation Learning Academy opened its Houston-Queenston location on Feb. 1, 2017, and continues to work with SBDC. Two weeks ago, the SBDC provided Allana with a one-year projection and the new facility is expected to approach full capacity by next fall.
“The SBDC put so much thought and hard work toward everything, which really impressed me,” Allana said. “We are still working together, and it is a great relationship.”
For more information about Foundation Learning Academy, visit www.foundationlearning.net.
The Blinn College SBDC is a service provider of the University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast SBDC Network, a business advising and training program serving 32 counties in Southeast Texas. The University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast SBDC Network is a program of the University of Houston Bauer College of Business and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
To learn how the Blinn SBDC can help your small business, contact Matthew Wehring at 979-830-4138 or matthew.wehring@blinn.edu.
