CONTRACTOR SUCCESS STORY
Currently working on getting his General B contractor license , Manny would like to markedly increase Native Soil ’ s bonding capacity , grow the business , and take on even larger projects as a prime . To that end , he and Angie have been focusing on organizing the company ’ s financials in order to have more money in the bank and build a good credit history . While initially , Native Soil got personal loans from some of Manny ’ s college connections to pay for upfront project costs and participated in the
Kiva crowdfunded microloan program to purchase basic equipment , the company recently qualified for its first business loan .
Over time , Manny and Angie have developed great relationships with their vendors and suppliers . They have also learned about using lines of credit and joint check agreements , enabling Native Soil to procure materials without needing to pay for everything upfront . Throughout their journey , an important theme has been the trust and relationships which they ’ ve built with peers , mentors , clients , vendors and employees . “ We now have more options which buys us time , so we don ’ t have to stress so much about cash flow ,” summarizes Angie . Having access to different financing options is also essential in taking their company to the next level of growth .
OUSD and City of Oakland . They are currently bidding many projects and working hard to get back to their pre-pandemic capacity , continuing to grow their union labor force .
With sales increasing , Manny and Angie envision someday getting a larger building , more equipment , hiring additional office personnel , and , he declares , “ we want to be around for the next hundred years !” Interjects Angie , “ And help other minority businesses succeed !” Already dedicated to giving back , they see growing their company as an important step in creating a greater positive impact within their community .
Native Soil recently volunteered to install 200 vegetable beds for Oakland-based
Homies Empowerment , a non-profit organization that will be using an empty City-owned lot to grow vegetable , which will then be distributed within the community . Giving back to the community is always at the forefront of Native Soil ’ s objectives .
They recently brought the company ’ s part-time field estimator up to full-time and expanded their staff . Manny has been encouraging his closest friends to get plumbing and electrical licenses , so that Native Soil can build a team of contractors , each specializing in a different trade . They are in the process of becoming a design-build firm , capable of handling both sides of the equation , to be able to offer a “ one-stop shop ” for clients . Now bonded , Native Soil has been awarded its very first government contracts as a prime , with the
SPRING CONTRACTOR REPORT - 21