What is your plan for the Jobber Grant?

I think its only fair I start!

I would use the grant to hire my first employee. If I had the freedom of this grant and didn't have to worry about building up my bank account to have an initial salary in the bank, I could hire the employee a lot earlier than I planned to. That extra time would be spent solely in the truck with me training and learning how my company does things differently than our competitors. I am so afraid that my first employee wouldn't offer the same level of service I am promising, but with 3-4 months of real world training before I send them out on their own, I would feel confident I could get them to a place where they can really shine.

It would pay off my tractor and buy a replacement truck. My truck has gone about as far as it wants to at 325,000 miles

I would buy a dedicated high roof work van with a great wrap around. I am still using a personal mini- van to get my jobs completed.

I’d buy a more suitable vehicle for landscaping (rav 4 can only fit so much 😂) and hope to hire on part time employees to keep up with demand while I grow the business to get us all full time work we love. 

At A&A Trades & Acquisitions, LLC, the plan for the Jobber Grant is to invest in growth, efficiency, and community impact.

1. Strengthen Operations: We’ll use the funds to upgrade tools, technology, and systems that streamline scheduling, communication, and project management. This ensures we can serve more clients reliably without sacrificing quality.

2. Enhance Training & Career Development: Part of the grant will support mentoring and hands-on training for new team members. We want to build skilled tradespeople who can grow into meaningful, long-term careers.

3. Expand Services Safely: The grant will help us implement additional safety measures, equipment, and resources to maintain high-quality work while taking on more projects for homes and businesses in our community.

4. Give Back Locally: A portion will go toward community initiatives—educational workshops, safety programs, and supporting local homeowners and small businesses. Our goal is to ensure the communities we serve benefit directly from our growth.

Overall, the grant will help A&A Trades & Acquisitions scale responsibly, continue delivering top-tier services, and create lasting value for both our team and the people we serve.

I would use it for moving my offices. We are growing and seem to have outgrown our current space.  

Service before myself. I will be starting up a non-profit in my area to provide reliable transportation to those without such. I am already repairing vehicles in exchange for serviced in which I am not skilled, like plumbing, carpentry, and roofing.

Great question. I started my business in November last year and have already maxed out my schedule. I have hired a team of 3. I haven’t paid myself yet, there is still things that we need I am saving up for after paying my employees, just part of being a business owner! First and foremost is we started a compassion cleaning program- so some funds would be allocated for marketing and supplies for that. We don’t do things for clout of course, however it is engagement that is going to drive views which is going to pay for these cleans in the future. I pay my employees no matter what, even if we are doing a compassion cleaning. 
The very first thing we need is a company vehicle. I own all my cars and they are all old, and starting to break down. I am paying for a storage unit to hold my vacuums, steam cleaner, additions supplies ect.., when a cargo van would hold this stuff just as well and allow us to be more efficient. I am currently fitting what I can into the back of a small Honda CRV & Toyota Sienna. Being able to fit everything into the van in an efficient way would save me storage costs and make unloading for jobs so much more efficient! Not to mention the amount of people who come out to get our info when we are leaving a clients house- the branding on the car would definitely get us more business.

Best of luck to all of you! 

I am so rooting for you! Great plan

Great question!!! I would use the grant to secure a brick and mortar space for my business as well as trade in my SUV for a desperately needed truck. I currently don’t have a trailer or truck bed so I’m constantly asking friends for help. Just prior to starting my business I survived domestic violence and found myself unemployed for the first time in my life because my six figure contract was 90 minutes from my kids and I knew I couldn’t keep them safe being that far away. Digging out of debt and starting a business has been nearly impossible but I refuse to give up. Securing a space to lease or rent and a truck would allow for more cash flow and independence. One day at a time, one step at a time ❤️