(Editor’s Note: West Central Initiative provides loans for entrepreneurs in our service area and recently opened a CARES Act Revolving Loan Fund funded through the Federal Economic Development Administration. Cory Amborn of Amborn Repair shares his journey as a new business owner and how our organization helped him get there by accessing this fund. For information on the new fund or other loan questions, contact Kate Mudge at 218-739-2239 or kate@old.wcif.org.)
The next generation of auto repair in Wheaton is in good hands thanks to a fella who answered when opportunity knocked.
Cory Amborn opened Amborn Repair downtown recently, using local help and a financing hand from West Central Initiative, and looks forward to being the go-to-guy for local auto repair.
A native of Wheaton, Cory’s journey started in the military. “I was a mechanic/parts guy in the Army,” Cory said. “I had been working on vehicles and boats since I was 10 years old, I suppose. When I returned home from the Army, I worked for John Deere (in Wheaton) for six-and-a-half years. I was a parts guy, but I’m more of a hands-on guy, so I started working for a mom-and-pop shop here across from the grocery store.”
Then Cory saw the opportunity. He noticed that some auto repair jobs weren’t accepted by his employer. Turns out the owner was getting close to retirement and felt limited as to what he wanted to take on.
So, Cory took note and when he surveyed the shops in town, that became his “aha!” moment!
“There were a couple other gentlemen in town here who had been doing mechanic work for 40 years and they’re getting close to retirement,” Cory said. “I just felt like now was my time to get in the game and get going before they retire, so I can serve the entire area.”
Cory connected with the Wheaton Economic Development Authority (EDA), which helped get him going. In the process, he discovered West Central Initiative (WCI). “I needed just a little bit more funding than I had at the time. Amy and Steven with the Wheaton EDA told me stories about other people in town who also worked with WCI and were able to get funding. They said it was a pretty painless process, and that’s what it turned out to be.”
In fact, Cory found a friendly staff who helped accommodate him on his journey to business ownership. “Between emails and phone calls, it was a very easy process,” he said.
“At West Central Initiative, we work with both entrepreneurs and those already in business to help connect people to resources,” says Kate Mudge, WCI’s Business Development Officer. “The CARES Act Revolving Loan Fund is just one way we provide business relief, support jobs, and speed our region’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Mudge says loan amounts typically range from $5,000 to $200,000. “Eligible businesses include the service Industry, restaurants, retailers, and others that can demonstrate an impact related to COVID-19,” she said.
Looking ahead, Cory plans to install a tire and balancer machine to expand into serving and selling tires. “I’m looking into getting a pipe bender, to do exhaust work. Especially in the farming industry, with grain trucks and old farm pickups, there’s a need for that service.”
And while he’s a one-man shop now, he hopes to soon hire a mechanic that he knows. “I’ll wait until after the first of the year and see how things go,” Cory said. “My mechanic friend is ASE-certified so I probably wouldn’t have to worry about him too much.”
Cory continues to see opportunity in Wheaton and hopes others can follow his lead and invest in the community. When asked why he came back home, or why someone should consider making Wheaton their home or open a business here, he’s happy to share his passion.
“One reason is schools here are great and it’s a very safe community,” he said. “And there are some niches that could be filled in town (as far as business opportunities) so I would encourage people to take the bull by the horns and fire up a business around here. These small towns need it.”
