ord sunshine pumpers

Brad and Gina Babb, owners of Sandhills Glass and Garage Doors, have been recognized for their utilization of micro-enterprise financing by the Association for Enterprise Opportunity. AEO is the national leadership organization and the voice of microenterprise development in the U.S.  AEO provides training, knowledge sharing, Federal and State public policy and advocacy, and communications to microentrepreneurs who do not have access to traditional sources of business education or capital.

AEO will be in Ord this Thursday to interview the Babbs, along with the Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP) and Valley County Economic Development, due to their role in small business assistance and financing.  This tremendous recognition for our community is further proof that targeted microfinance grows healthy rural communities.

This is also not the first time the Babbs have been recognized for their role in microfinance at the rural level.  Back in February, Gene Rahn and Brad and Gina were recognized as exemplary role models for microfinance in rural communities by the Center for Rural Affairs.  The recognition also served as a reminder of how effective the efforts of growing your own local businesses can be in rural communities.

Join me in congratulating the Babbs for their recogniztion – well done!