“ WVCAP AND WOODLANDS DIDN’ T JUST HELP US START; IT HAS HELPED US GROW WITH INTENTION.”
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION in the process of purchasing the Billy Motel. The collateral support available through the program made it possible for us to acquire the property and begin building what has become the foundation of Branch & Co,” says Joseph.“ Since then, we’ ve continued to benefit from the program through Woodlands grants that have supported property improvements, including a $ 500 grant that covered roughly half the cost of a new screen door for the restaurant— a small but meaningful improvement for our guests— and a $ 5,000 grant that helped fund a portion of our interior design contract for the Billy expansion.”
Joseph says without Woodlands’ and WVCAP’ s assistance, the success that followed would not have occurred.
“ The subsequent grants from Woodlands have reinforced our ability to invest in quality— the right screen door, the right design— details that define the guest experience,” says Joseph.
“ WVCAP AND WOODLANDS DIDN’ T JUST HELP US START; IT HAS HELPED US GROW WITH INTENTION.”
With the help of the financing, Joseph believes Branch & Co. will be able to have a meaningful and lasting economic impact on the communities it serves.
Beyond the monetary value, working with Woodlands was a different experience for Branch & Co. The company’ s leaders felt the lenders understood what they were trying to accomplish, and they were willing to help the best that they could.
“ WVCAP’ s partnership is fundamentally different from traditional lending in that it understands and invests in mission, not just margin,” says Joseph.“ A conventional lender or investor would evaluate us primarily on financial returns. WVCAP, through Woodlands, understood the broader value we’ re creating— for our guests, our team and our community— and supported us accordingly.”
Joseph believes that working with WVCAP and Woodlands allows Branch & Co. to have someone in their corner who truly understands hospitality, community impact and rural development. They say that this relationship is invaluable as they grow.
“ We have big goals. We want to open the Billy expansion, bringing a fully
realized, expanded version of the Billy Motel and Ish Kitchen to our community. We also want to grow Stay With Branch beyond Berkeley Springs and into Canaan Valley, bringing the same high-quality vacation rental management we’ ve built to a new and exciting market,” says Joseph.
If you want to follow the Billy expansion, what’ s on the menu at Ish Kitchen or learn more about their vacation rental management business, follow @ thebillymotel, @ theishkitchen and @ staywithbranch on Instagram.
“ The Billy expansion is projected to create at least five permanent jobs and 10 to 15 temporary jobs during construction, while driving more than $ 3 million in local spending by attracting guests, hosting events and building partnerships with local businesses and vendors,” says Joseph.
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