maven&meddler

The following letter is written by neighbor, friend and occasional employer, Lori Carpenter. Lori is a highly regarded Professional Wetlands Scientist and Hydrologist. Her firm, Huffman & Carpenter, Inc.,  is internationally recognized for excellence.

I’ve followed Ms. Carpenters’ struggle to build an ingenously novel - and green -  product, with sound facts, brilliant data - collected over many years-  and grit, only to have banks turn her down, one after one. The dream and the product are real, the timing is terrible.

This is a cautionary tale that deserves another hearing.

Make the Banks accountable: Loan us  our share and we’ll put America back to work!

I am the face of small business in Nevada and America - and I can’t get a working capital loan. Does Congress realize that, having given banks this money, they’re hording it? They won’t loan it out under any circumstances.

As the owner of a very successful 17-year-old business, which I started just out of college, I provide over 12 high salary professional positions right here in Reno, Nevada. Getting my education on student loans wasn’t easy, and in my business’ early days I didn’t pay myself, supplementing my income with a waitress job two nights a week to repay my college loans. I represent the dedication of small business which this congress and the banks have failed to trust.

I am small business, and when over a year ago, the economy started to fail, I lowered my salary by two-thirds, while giving my employees cost of living increases. I have applied to more than five banks who received bailout money for a working capital loan of 1.3 million. My existing business can handle the debt load payments. Banks aren’t loaning to me – they say that I am a risk. I am not a risk. I pay my debts, have never defaulted and planned ahead when I saw this downturn coming.

My working capital loan will create over 100 high paying green jobs, encourage and create sustainable development projects, while providing citizens a way to stop climate change - and yet I cannot get a loan under the SBA 7a program, even though the local Reno SBA office has certified my project and believes in it. The banks say that I am a risky small business, despite the fact that small business employs over 80% of this country. I am not the risk that got us here. I haven’t defaulted on anything and yet I am the risk? I’m paying the price. I am not unique.

Congress, Senate and President Elect-Obama, please make the banks accountable - to loan to small business. We are the back-bone of America. Let us put America back to work. We’ll invest the money in her homes and communities at a local level that will change the world, one project, at a time.

I am the face of small business, Nevada and America - and you can trust me to act responsibly, with wisdom and heart. I will do what is right for America because we are the same person. I am the face of America, and I will make the difference and be the change we need in the world. Loan to me. Stop the banks from hording the money – tell them America needs that money to get back to work. \

I am the face of small business, Nevada and America. Believe in me – I’ve earned your respect, loan to me, I am the face of America.

Respectfully,

 

Lori Carpenter,

PWS, CPESC

Hydrologist/Hydrogeologist

500 Damonte Ranch Parkway, Suite 929

Reno, Nevada 89521

775-828-1991

775-828- 2302(fax)

lori@nvwetlands.com