E-Community Program Awards Loan Funds for Inventory Expansion at the Hardware Store

Atchison, KS – The City of Atchison’s E-Community Program has approved a new loan to Mobrant Inc., the legal entity doing business as “the Hardware Store” located at 609 Commercial Street in downtown Atchison.  The $21,000 in loan proceeds will help finance an inventory expansion following the relocation of the formerly adjacent Napa Auto Parts Store to 424 Woodlawn Avenue earlier this year.  Additional financing for the inventory expansion project was provided by Bank of Atchison. Mobrant Inc. is owned by Derek and Kelly Franklin. This is the second E-Community loan received by Mobrant Inc. (the Hardware Store), with the first loan totaling $27,800 having closed in April of 2017.

Since January of 2017, the Atchison E-Community Program has been offering loans for small business startups, expansions, and acquisitions. Everyday businesses like restaurants, cleaning services, small manufacturers, daycare facilities, construction companies, retail stores, etc… can use this locally controlled, revolving loan fund as gap financing to make their small business dreams come true.

The funding for the E-Community Program is created through the sale of entrepreneurship tax credits, which are allocated to NetWork Kansas by the Kansas State Legislature.

To learn more about the E-Community Program, contact Justin Pregont with the City of Atchison at justinp@cityofatchison.com or 913-367-5500.

Photo: Don Ball (left) with the Bank of Atchison, Derek & Kelly Franklin (middle) with Mobrant Inc. DBA the Hardware Store, and Justin Pregont (right), Assistant City Manager.