Charleston resident Latonya Davies, owner of All for Them-Latonya’s Pet Care Services, walks a couple of her canine clients. She has been developing her pet care business by utilizing services offered by the Elevate Cross County Innovation Center in Mattoon.
Katie Haifley of Mattoon sits in a café-style booth at the Elevate Cross County Innovation Center on Feb. 6 in Mattoon. Haifley was the first Elevate member to graduate from the Elevate-Lake Land College Initiative. Haifley, who earned a business development certificate from Lake Land, plans to use the information learned in these courses to open a coffee shop and live music venue.
MATTOON — Entrepreneur Latonya Davies’ business is all about taking care of dogs, cats and other pets in the comfort of their homes while their owners are away.
“I focus on easing the minds of pet parents,” the Charleston resident said of All For Them-Latonya's Pet Care Services.
When Davies needs to ease her mind and get office work done away from her busy home, she said the Elevate Cross County Innovation Center in Mattoon offers quiet space with 24-hour access.
Elevate, which opened last spring in the Cross County Mall, recently recognized the achievements of Davies and four other members of this nonprofit business development center who are among the first entrepreneurs to use its support services.
The other honorees at the inaugural Elevate Celebration of Innovation and Growth were Katie Haifley, Keegan O'Connell, Amy Patrick and Evie Rudibaugh.
Executive Director Carlos Ortega said Elevate values the success of its members and wants to do as much it can to support their efforts to ultimately go into business for themselves.
“(Elevate) hopes to encourage, connect and grow small and startup businesses in the region by creating a mixed-use co-working space that provides resources and opportunities to empower success,” Ortega said.
Davies said those resources include mentorship free of charge from accountants, attorneys, marketers and other local business professionals.
“You can get all of your questions answered without having to hire someone and take that extra expense,” Davies said.
She is researching opportunities for taking her pet care services farther afield now that she has Pet Sitters International certification. She also plans to start a nonprofit so she can apply for grants for her animal rescue work.
O'Connell, of Charleston, has used the Kiva Crowdsourcing Loan Program via Elevate’s partnership with the Local Initiatives Support Corp. Rural nonprofit.
Ortega said this $5,000 loan will enable O’Connell to further expand the services of his Buzzed & Board Media production company and to hire employees.
Rudibaugh, of Charleston, registered her Peace of Mind Home Services business with the Elevate team's help. She found inspiration for her home care services business while taking part in the ClassE Coles County high school entrepreneurship class.
Elevate began hosting ClassE sessions last fall at its facility in formerly empty office space that was renovated with the help of $325,000 in Google Impact Challenge grant funding.
Patrick, of Mattoon, was the first graduate of Elevate’s' 6 Step Program, a course that teaches entrepreneurs how to start a business by completing a half dozen preparatory tasks first. She is now operating her Amy Patrick Life & Wellness education business online.
Haifley, of Mattoon, was the first member of the business development center to graduate from the Elevate-Lake Land College Initiative.
Ortega said Lake Land has provided 15 tuition waivers to full members of Elevate. He said this partnership helps entrepreneurs get the knowledge they need to start their business while easing their financial burden.
Haifley, 19, who earned a business development certificate from Lake Land, said she appreciated the help with her tuition cost. She said Elevate also provided her with a quiet place to study and with mentorship on business development goal setting. She hopes to open a coffee shop and live music venue someday.
“I feel I have a foundation I can utilize later on to start that business,” Haifley said.
LOOK BACK: Remember these Mattoon locations?
Gas prices
1988: Super Pantry claims when their price reduction hit 69.9 centers that it ended the Mattoon gas war.
IL central depot
1977: This three-story building has served Illinois Central and Amtrak passengers in Mattoon for a half-century.
IL central railroad
1971: Crowds like this one in Mattoon in 1971 can still be seen along some Amtrak routes.
Kraft
1989: Kraft Foods plant where the Lender's Bagels are made.
Lake Land Boulevard
1987: 57 trees were cut down on Lake Land Boulevard started a campaign to end the great number of trees cut down for no good reason by Dr. Stanley Thiel.
Lake Mattoon
1958: The new impounding reservoir about one mile west of Neoga is nearing completion and will be known as Lake Mattoon.
S&K
1990: Controller Don Portugal, left, and vice president Gary Stacey outside the Mattoon tool and supply firm of S&K Power Tool and Supply Corp.
Sculpture "In Southern Crossing"
1988: Dann Nardi's sculpture "In Southern Crossing" inspires some Mattoon residents to appreciate such an artistic endeavor, while others are left scratching their heads in bewilderment.
St. John Lutheran
1956: Recent dedication of the new $400,000 St. John's Lutheran Church. The first church was established in 1893 in what is now the Union Congregational Church. The congregation in 1921 purchased the present church at 14th St. and Broadway.
Wesley Towers
1977: This brightly-colored Patio Room is one of two restaurants the public an enjoy at Wesley Towers. The six-story Wesley Towers may be a retirement home but the first floor was designed to serve the community.
Rob Stroud
Reporter
Rob Stroud is a reporter for the JG-TC, covering the city of Mattoon, Lake Land College, Cumberland County and areas including Oakland, Casey and Martinsville.
