When a company’s motto is, “Your problem is our problem”, you can be assured the company places great value on taking care of its customers. Browsing through the testimonials of Jay’s Plumbing’s website, and you see just how accurate that statement is. The company has been providing the Greater Chicagoland area with plumbing services for over fifteen years and is highly regarded by its customers.

Jay DeFrates (yes, there is an actual Jay!) started Jay’s Plumbing in 2001. At that time, he was the only employee and the business was run from his home. By 2003, the company had grown to five employees and was renting warehouse space from a family member for business operations and storage. However, by 2006, due to continuous growth of the company, Jay desperately needed a larger facility. And a place for the company to call its own.

Growth Corp and First Bank worked together in providing 504 financing for the purchase of the company’s new facility…a 5,800 square foot space on Ogden Avenue in Downers Grove. “While securing the financing for this building, it was determined the bank would not give me a loan without the SBA helping to share the risk. Using the 504 Loan Program, we purchased the stand-alone building we are in now that functions as a dual office and warehouse space.”

Jay finds the plumbing business to be a fascinating trade providing opportunities to learn something new every day. His job is equal parts rewarding and challenging as he navigates between new construction, remodeling and service calls. When asked what’s next, Jay said, “Our plans consist of adding a few employees by the end of the year and continuing to be the best plumbing contractor in the Western Chicago suburbs.” That sort of confidence comes easy when you make it a priority to stay as current as possible on the latest code and technology changes. Jay holds true to the belief that, “education, field based experience, work ethic, customer service and, most of all, code knowledge is the difference between an average plumber and a great one.”

The 504 Loan Program afforded Jay DeFrates the opportunity to do more of what he enjoys, provide much needed jobs for his community and continue growing and expanding the successful plumbing business he started so many years ago. “We realize none of this would have been possible without the ongoing support we receive from the Small Business Administration.”