Non-Profit creates low-rent facility for small businesses

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Tuesday morning, a division of the Housing Authority of Bowling Green celebrated a big milestone by helping out small businesses.

The division called the People’s Opportunity Program for Underserved Populations, or POP-UP, celebrated a ribbon-cutting and open house.

The nonprofit, POP-UP, helps small businesses, especially minorities, women and low-income business owners, by providing low-interest loans.

Tuesday though, was such a victory, because along with providing low interest loans, this is the first time that they’ve opened a low rent facility that two of their clients can now use to conduct their business. 

With this ribbon cutting, POP-UP celebrated the opening of their small business development place on Graham Drive in Bowling Green that two local restaurant owners are operating out of. 

POP-UP small business consultant Dawn Bolton helps these POP-UP clients brainstorm, strategize and finance their businesses before they make a presentation before the board, and she said she loves seeing their efforts come to fruition. 

“For me, it’s been so fun to see them grow, to start from not understanding how costs even worked to fully grasping their financial statements before they go before the board,” said Bolton.

Two Bowling Green businesses, Kira Bolling’s A Taste of Sunshine and Katy Cole’s Katy’s Creative Catering, now operate out of the Housing Authority’s building on Graham Drive.

“It is so important that we have businesses like this in our neighborhood, and I feel like a small part of something that is so much bigger and greater than what I am, and I’m just blessed to have this opportunity,” said Cole. 

“I think so and it’s a much needed business for this area between me and Katy, I think we can bring something new to the area,” said Bolling.