Shasta-Cascade SBDC

Pine Cove Marina/RV Park

“When I took over these businesses I felt very alone and not sure what to do. I knew that I was in trouble and I am forever grateful that when I reached out you were there for me.”

All Client Stories

Jobs were saved and funding obtained with the help of the SBDC. Good news for the lodging and marina services at this prime fishing spot on Lewiston Lake.

Challenge

Louise Rockwood-Bigham has owned and operated Pine Cove Marina & RV Park since 2002. Pine Cove is the only marina on Lewiston Lake in Trinity County. They rent boats, kayaks and canoes as well as boat slips for privately-owned watercraft.

By 2014,personal hardship and divorce had brought financial difficulties and Louise was faced with the prospect of losing the marina and RV park through foreclosure. She was afraid all was lost – and she turned to the SBDC for help.

Gameplan

Quickly, an SBDC advisor was able to assess her situation and create a plan of action to help her stabilize the park finances. She was able to secure a $550,000 emergency hard money loan that kept her out of foreclosure and allowed her to retain her two employees, but this was not a long term solution. Another SBDC advisor was brought in to give her QuickBooks mentoring which allowed to her to understand her finances, projections and plot a path forward. In 2018, she again reached out to the Shasta Cascade SBDC and worked with an advisor to secure more loans which allowed her to pay off her IRS debt and stabilize the business long term.

Result

The long term relationship Louise started with the Shasta Cascade SBDC in 2014 has helped her to keep the park running and increase sales, while avoiding foreclosure and allowing her to retain her employees. The park is in good financial shape for the future and continues to be an important tourism spot in Trinity County.

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