People Incorporated has been in the business of changing lives since 1964. Headquartered in Abingdon in Washington County, the non-profit community action agency and community development organization has been working to revitalize a community in Southwest Virginia for nearly 10 years.

Kwik Shine Floor Care, LLC is a family-owned business that was established by Derrick and Sunshine Wilmoth in 2015. The Southwest Virginia-based small business works with clients in Russell and Washington counties, offering floor maintenance, power washing, painting, and gutter cleaning services.

Derrick and Sunshine hoped to expand their business a few years ago but came up against a roadblock when traditional banks denied them financing. That’s when Derrick reached out to People Incorporated.

As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), People Incorporated provides entrepreneurs with flexible loans that support the growth and development of their businesses. The agency stepped in to provide the much-needed financing Derrick and Sunshine needed to expand their business. Derrick worked with his lender and was approved for a small business loan. His lender worked one-on-one with Derrick to provide needed technical assistance, like help with marketing and operations, to give Kwik Shine an extra boost. This investment by People Incorporated helped Derrick purchase new equipment for the company. He also expanded his initial cleaning services to include power washing, gutter cleaning and more.

This financial boost had a positive impact on both Kwik Shine and the local community. Thanks to the loan, Kwik Shine was able to hire an additional part-time employee and has immediate plans to add a new full-time position. With new contracts secured and revenue projections on the rise, Kwik Shine has been able to expand its team and enhance its services, all thanks to the support received from People Incorporated.

“I’m thankful to People Inc. We were able to branch out and get more people to help so it really helped us, helped the community. We’re just trying to make things better for people.”

Derrick Wilmoth