BUSINESS
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19 - 25, 2019 • PAGE 11
f
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STONE MOUNTAIN
Fitness franchise owner finds financing to take business to another level
Carla Carson, right, and her daughter Jasmine A. Smith, who is a certified instructor and a partner in the business, visit the
construction site that soon will be the home of her Anytime Fitness studio.
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
A muddy dirt road and
the frame of a building under
construction may not be
many people’s idea of an
exciting place to visit, but
Carla Carson is absolutely
giddy every time she goes
there. The construction site
off Flat Shoals Parkway
near Wesley Chapel Road in
Decatur is rapidly becoming
the new home of her
Anytime Fitness facility
Carson said she plans to
move into the new building
in mid-January, just in time
for members to work on
New Year’s resolutions to
exercise more. “I am so
excited. There is nothing like
this south DeKalb County,”
she said of the 6,500-square-
foot building that grows
closer to completion each
day “I’ve always wanted
to own a building for my
business, rather than renting,
and now I’m building from
the ground up. It’s a dream
come true.”
Anytime Fitness is an
international health and
fitness business that since its
founding in 2002 has grown
to a $ 1.45-billion company
with more than 4,000
franchises in 50 countries—
there’s even on in Antarctica.
Members receive key access
to gym facilities seven days
a week, 24 hours a day
Carson said she’s pleased
to have a business that
helps people be healthier.
“Exercise is medicine. It
helps people with high blood
pressure, diabetes and a
number of other issues,” she
said, noting that in addition
to exercise equipment
being available around the
clock, certified instructors
are available to help clients
reach their fitness goals.
After Carson decided to
take her business to another
level, she began looking for
a loan that would allow her
to move to a larger facility,
buy more equipment, hire
additional instructors and
enhance marketing efforts.
She found what
she needed through a
collaboration between
Access to Capital for
Entrepreneurs Inc. (ACE)
and the Tory Burch
Foundation Capital
Program, powered by Bank
of America, that made it
easier for her to afford a
loan. She qualified for the
program, which allowed
for a 2 percent interest rate
reduction, lowering the
amount of each payment
over the course of the loan.
ACE describes itself
as “a nonprofit and
community development
financial institution that
provides loans and business
consulting services to help
borrowers throughout Metro
Atlanta and North Georgia
create and grow stable,
sustainable businesses that
generate jobs.” Created
in 2002, ACE provides a
combination of capital,
coaching and connections.
The institution is supported
by grants and other forms
of funding from banks,
foundations, government
entities and corporations
to assist in its mission to
help underserved business
owners.
“It was a pleasure to
help Carla with her business
loan,” said Bonita Doster,
a loan officer at ACE. “We
look forward to Carla’s
future success, and we’re
grateful for the opportunity
to make a difference in her
life and the community she
is supporting because of her
business.”
The Tory Burch
Foundation Capital
Program, powered by
Bank of America, with
which ACE collaborated to
process Carson’s loan, was
created to provide women
entrepreneurs in the United
States the opportunity to
access affordable loans
through Community
Lenders—local lenders that
provide credit and financial
services to underserved
markets and populations,
including women, to
encourage and enhance
economic growth and
development.
“Our partnership
with ACE and the Tory
Burch Foundation is part
of our commitment to
women business owners
for sustainable economic
growth,” said Wendy
Stewart, Atlanta market
president for Bank of
America. “With more
accessible business loans,
women are afforded the
advancement opportunities
they need to make an
impact.”
Carson acknowledged
that life as a business owner
has been a roller coaster ride.
“We first opened in 2008
at the height of a national
financial crisis. It was very
difficult to borrow at that
time and I had to rely on
my savings to keep my
business afloat, but things
are definitely on the upswing
now. It was wonderful
to be introduced to this
great program that helps
businesspeople such as me.”
She laughed recalling
visiting a Tory Burch store
for the first time when she
was on vacation in Dubai
earlier this year. “The
moment I stepped into the
store, it hit me like a ton of
bricks. This lady helped me
get my loan!”
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