Martin’s Cleaning hopes to expand with $50,000 grant
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Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom |
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
SANGERVILLE — Residents, via a special town meeting vote in late January, approved a $50,000 application from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Micro-Enterprise Program for the family-owned Martin’s Cleaning Service. The grant application is earmarked to help the business expand, as awarded funds would provide for the purchase of additional commercial cleaning equipment and to acquire a van to transport the new equipment.
“We started this business with $87 and equipment that was really old,” said Sherri Martin, who along with her husband Phil and son Deven has owned and operated the family business since the three started in 2014. “This is something that we really wanted to do, we made money to buy newer equipment but it’s still really old.”
Some of the original equipment was borrowed and other items were purchased used — the carpet extractor is 30 years old — and constant maintenance is required. Since starting in 2014, Martin’s Cleaning Service has worked at locations such as the town offices in Sangerville, Parkman and Greenville, apartment complexes in Dover-Foxcroft, Monson and Lincoln, the Greenville fire department and library and at laundromats. Services have included in-depth cleanings of both flooring and carpets, to get the hard surfaces to resemble the original color and to get the imbedded dirt and grime out of the rugs.
“We are very picky, we are perfectionists,” Sherri Martin said. “We could do something a lot cheaper but we don’t because we want people to be happy with what we do.”
The family said they are very appreciative of all the work they have, but they would like to expand their operations.
“What ended up happening is we got calls from bigger companies,” Martin said, but for some of these jobs at larger establishments Martin’s Cleaning Service lacks the required specialized equipment. Larger floor spaces need to be cleaned with propane and battery-operated buffers and auto scrubbers.
As a way to keep up with the growth of their business, the Martin family learned that state funding is available to help small businesses expand. “That’s when I said to my husband, ‘I wonder how hard it would be to look into a grant,’” Martin said, thinking a grant total may be in the $500 range.
Phil Martin said he talked with Sangerville Town Manager Dr. Ken Woodbury Jr., first to see if Martin’s Cleaning Service was eligible and then to learn more about what programs the business could apply for. The three members of the Martin family said they have been very appreciative of Dr. Woodbury’s efforts throughout the entire grant application process.
Martin said should grant funding be awarded “that will help us get a van to haul the equipment and get some chemicals and equipment to do those larger jobs.” He added, “Right now we are using a Jeep and a car.”
“We have to go with two vehicles because we can’t go with one,” Sherri Martin said.
Deven Martin said they use several hundred pounds of equipment and the van they hope to acquire if the application is successful would include a ramp for easier loading and unloading in addition to the more effective and efficient movement of personnel so more time is spent on the job rather than getting to the site.
The micro-enterprise program benefits low to moderate income citizens who either own their own businesses or have employment opportunities through jobs created. Sherri Martin said down the road, Martin’s Cleaning Service could be able to hire additional employees if the business continues to be able to grow.
“We started this because of our son, he’s going to take over it and make a living,” she said. “He will be able to make enough money to support himself easily.”
At the January special town meeting, Dr. Woodbury said the grant process is competitive. Should the Martin’s Cleaning Service application be successful a notification of intent to award would be made around July, with the bids for the equipment and van going out and being awarded over the ensuing few months.