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504 Loan An “Eye Opener” for Optometry Practice

Jan 2011

In the growing medical field of optometry, practices that provide a full range of services and products continue to thrive. By being able to provide clinical and surgical services and a complete retail distribution channel, forward looking and expanding optometric organizations are poised to take advantage of the financial benefits afforded by the 504 loan program.

Southwest Florida Eye Care, founded in 2002 by Dr. Leonard Avril, is one such optometric group. It provides comprehensive optometry services to the Naples, Ft. Myers and Cape Coral communities. All partners are board-certified in ophthalmology and trained corneal surgeons.

The group currently operates out of three locations but when the time came to move out of leased space, the 504 loan program was the clear commercial financing choice.

The $2.5 million 504 project consists of a land refinance component and construction of a new building. The proceeds will be used to refinance land the group purchased in 2005 to be the site for a free standing office and for the construction of the building, which will house doctor and administrative offices. The new building will be built next to a surgical center, and the move to the larger facility will allow the optometric group to add more staff and to grow its patient base.

“The 504 was very attractive to Dr. Avril and his partners because of the simplicity of the program,” said Loretta Mathushek, FFCFC Vice President and Business Development Officer for Southwest Florida. “The program allowed the group to preserve the maximum amount of working capital and minimize the down payment,” she said.

Mathushek continued, “Once healthy, growing businesses learn of the benefits the 504 loan program provides, they are hard pressed not to take advantage of the low down payments and attractive long-term fixed interest rates,” she said.

For more information about 504 loans in Florida, contact Florida First Capital by visiting www.ffcfc.com, emailing us at insider@ffcfc.com or calling 888.320.5504.