Ridgefield, CT, April 5, 2006--Sun Interiors Ltd., a commercial flooring contractor and StarNet member affected by last year’s devastating hurricane season, received a grant as part of the “Smart Business Reboot” program earlier this year.
The challenge-match program, which was launched by CDW Corporation and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), encourages companies around the nation to contribute to the Small Business Disaster Relief Fund. The Fund provides grants to help rebuild small businesses in the four states most affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita – Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Sun Interiors, a commercial flooring contractor based in Metairie, Louisiana, was one of the first recipients of the grant money and donated labor.
“Like many businesses in New Orleans, we had flood waters rising to our roof, leaving behind stains and a hefty financial burden,” said Carl Franzella, co-owner of Sun Interiors Ltd, a StarNet member since 2005. “We’ve been serving the New Orleans metropolitan area for more than 30 years, and we were determined to stay here and rebuild. At first, it didn’t seem possible, but with the assistance of the Fund and CDW’s generosity, we’re on our way to recovery.”
Franzella added, “It has been a long road since Katrina, but we are so thankful for all the help we have received. By the end of April we hope to be back in our facility, and there is no way this could have been accomplished without the support of LABI, CDW and the StarNet board and members. We also owe a great debt of gratitude to all the employees, vendors, and customers who have worked so hard in rebuilding Sun Interiors.”
Lori Dowling, president and CEO of StarNet, said, “StarNet couldn’t be happier that Sun Interiors has received a grant toward their rebuilding efforts. Also, our members will continue to support Sun Interiors, and all of its members in areas affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, for as long as necessary.”
John Edwardson, chairman and chief executive officer of CDW, presented an initial donation check for $350,000 to Daniel Juneau, president of LABI. On top of its initial donation, CDW challenged businesses and others to contribute money to the Fund to help small businesses get on their feet again – money CDW will match dollar-for-dollar, up to an additional $350,000. CDW’s donation and match program were made possible when CDW coworkers decided to forego their annual holiday party and use its significant budget to help in the Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts.
CDW’s donation and match, as well as contributions expected to be made to the Fund by other businesses during the match program, would yield a total of $1.05 million in contributions. Edwardson noted that in the days after Katrina struck, CDW and its coworkers donated money, food, time, and technology to other charitable and humanitarian efforts benefiting the Gulf region but still wanted to do more, and, since small businesses are the growth engine of the American economy, CDW coworkers wanted to give where it could do the most good.
“The long-term viability of this region’s economy depends on small business recovery,” Edwardson said. “As a long-time small business advocate, and as a company noted for its responsiveness, CDW understands that these enterprises are the backbone of the Gulf region’s economy and they need our help now. That’s what this effort is about – providing real help, right now, where it has the greatest potential to provide both immediate and long-term benefits.”
The catastrophic hurricanes of 2005 left a disaster area the size of Great Britain, with hundreds of thousands of small businesses destroyed and employees displaced. LABI created the Fund to cut through the red tape associated with many relief loan programs and, instead, provide grants directly to approved small business applicants.
