Small Business Success Story - Infrastructure Unlimited, Inc.
Each year the New York Small Business Development Center recognizes outstanding small businesses in a variety of ways. This Success Story from the Rockland SBDC appears in our 2016 Annual Report.
Gloria Lovece
Infrastructure Unlimited, Inc.
Gloria Lovece
Infrastructure Unlimited, Inc.
Rockland SBDC
Gloria Lovece is President of Infrastructure Unlimited Inc., the construction company, she started with her two brothers. The company specializes in the installation and remediation of public infrastructure - notably bridges, railroads and power lines. Her company is a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) in NY and NJ with certification pending in Ohio.
In a male dominated industry, she has worked very hard to overcome many obstacles, including the hydrocephalus that took her father. In addition to taking her father’s life, the disease caused the decline and eventual closure of the family’s construction business and all who worked there lost their jobs - Gloria and her brothers included. Rather than work for another firm, Gloria decided to start her own construction business and convinced her brothers to join her.
As a startup, Infrastructure Unlimited was awarded its first contract (as a non-DBE prime) sealing 28 bridge decks on interstate highways with heavy traffic and finished the project ahead of schedule. Gloria worked with the SBDC to find additional capital to fund her continued growth and to navigate the process of DBA certification. SBDC Advisor Adi Israeli worked with Gloria to develop the business plans, SBA forms and loan packaging necessary for Gloria’s firm to receive a $375,000 SBA guaranteed loan from M&T Bank. Combined with an additional $355,000 Gloria has invested in cash and equipment the company has grown yet again adding three new full-time positions and bidding on more and larger projects. As an entrepreneur, Gloria is fulfilling her childhood dream of having a company where women and minorities are welcome and able to thrive.
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