Road to opportunity

“They're well trained, and they're good workers.”

sba loan helps veterans' startup

When their private financing package fell through at the last minute, Eric Gove and Ronald Redenius said they thought their startup trucking venture might be doomed.

That was before Dan Corman at Citizens Bank of Kansas told the military veterans from Winfield about the Small Business Administration's Patriot Express loan.

'He said he could get it turned around in 48 hours, and he did,' Gove said.

The Patriot Express loan program began in June. Kingman-based Citizens Bank -- which has branches in Atlanta, Pretty Prairie, Sylvia, Turon, Wichita and Winfield -- was the area's first lender to approve a loan. Patriot Express loans can be made for up to $500,000 and can be used for most business purposes. Read more