It is one of five loans that has been given out thus far, since 2012 to Sonoma County residents on the East side of town. Yet what amazes Blattner and wife Kimberly even more is what they both know people can do if given the chance. And, this is why he is helping to fund the micro loan program at La Luz Center.
Down-to-earth and always approachable, he spoke to this reporter, while on assignment for The Sonoma Valley Sun for a few moments at his office on West Napa Street. While wife Kimberly was part of the reason Blattner got involved. He pointed out that he has always believed in helping people to grow through business. As he said, “back in 1968 I formed the San Francisco Local Development Corporation. I basically prepared businesses to be introduced to the bank.”
“This is pretty much what we are doing now, on a smaller scale, only back then it was really hard,” he said. Working with people and ideas that the banks considered “unbankable” was a set back.
So, when Kimberly and others, like Donna Halow talked to him about a ‘micro-loan’ program, he understood very clearly. “I got it to my heart right away that this was one of the ways to ‘level-the-playing-field’ by offering significant opportunities through business and economic development.”
Yes, they are small loans but they are important steady steps. “People need credit and the chance to build it and if a local vendor or sole proprietor can’t approach a bank then how in the hell are you going to manage a business?”
Blattner pointed out that all five micro-loans given out so far, through La Luz Center are being repaid on time and on schedule. “We (Kimberly and I) hope that this effort (coordinated through La Luz) will continue and grow.
The impact a simple loan is profound and makes a world of difference. “I am so grateful,” said Cynthia Owings of ‘Cynthia’s Scones.’ Just a few thousand dollars has given her the ability to not only continue her home-grown baking enterprise, but to expand it.
“The money we received is helping us to take on more orders for more scones,” she said. I now have clients in Healdsburg, Santa Rosa and all the way into Marin.”
She hopes to leave the community kitchen café on West Napa next to the bicycle shop and continue to grow. “But I will not have a café adjacent to the facility. I want to have an industrial (bakery) kitchen somewhere in Sonoma if possible. One that will accommodate the growing amount of orders for scones and that we can deliver from.”
The architect-turned baker has become more business savvy since the days at home baking scones and pies with the kids when they were little. A simple recipe Cynthia Scones are fresh, wholesome and delicious and in demand.
The loan through La Luz has given her the ability to take charge of her business. “Being in one’s own business is hard work. But it is very empowering,” she said.
Ramos said he is happy to receive the help of the micro loan. “Getting everything together is not as simple as I anticipated,” he said. He hopes to open a shop of his own in town soon. But just getting permits, applications together, along with fees and estimates has been a considerable cost in and of themselves.
Halow, who has been working with Blattner, La Luz and others on providing micro loans to local businesses believes very strongly in them. Like Blattner, she too noted that since the micro loan program began in 2012, all of the loans are being paid back on time. “One of the very first loans has been paid back in full and that business is working on a second loan,” she said.
“Micro loans have worked in other parts of the world, said Halow. Why not right here in Sonoma!”
For more information about the micro loan program through La Luz Center visit the La Luz Center web site.
