Five Points Kennels can now accommodate 150 dogs and 60 cats overnight, over 50 dogs in daycare and 25 dogs for grooming. Part of the expansion also includes a lobby and prep kitchen.

Twenty people are employed at Five Points Kennels. Ann Stickford anticipates Five Points will add 8-12 employees in the next several months. The Stickfords financed the remodeling construction and bought new equipment with a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration 504 program through Star Financial Bank and Indiana Statewide Certified Development Corporation. Indiana Statewide CDC works with local Indiana lenders to issue SBA 504 loans to help owners of expanding or startup small businesses buy real estate, buildings and equipment. SBA 504 loans help small companies gain favorable financing terms similar to those available to large companies in conventional loans. Ann says, “We are grateful that our business has grown to the point we had a long waiting list for boarding, daycare and grooming. The SBA 504 loan has provided us with the monies for our expansion without our having to output a significant amount of money. “As a small business, it would have been very difficult — if not impossible — to obtain enough money through conventional financing due to the required higher down payments and shorter loan terms. We had a very positive experience working with the various entities who work together on the loan process.” The Stickfords also used SBA 504 financing to build Five Points Kennels in 2003. Chad Baer of STAR Financial Bank says, “The SBA 504 loan is perfect for this type of business expansion. Almost every small business owner needs a low down payment and long-term, fixed repayment rate to give them a solid budget figure and help them retain cash for other purposes.” Kevin Stickford is a K-9 officer for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Ann’s background is in community programming and grant writing. Ann says both are lifelong animal lovers and have volunteered with local rescue groups. She says, “We are a family-owned business that strives to provide a stress-free experience for pet owners when leaving their four-legged family members for overnight lodging, grooming, dog daycare and socialization in a safe, clean, loving environment outside of their home.” Background: Indiana Statewide CDC (www.cambridgecapitalmgmt.com) has provided more than $515 million to 1,240 Indiana companies since 1983, creating or saving more than 15,000 jobs, and is the most prolific CDC in Indiana. STAR Financial Bank (www.starfinancial.com) is an Indiana community bank providing banking, mortgage, investing, credit card, wealth management, and insurance services. STAR Financial Group, including the bank, has grown to $1.93 billion in assets with 42 locations in central and northeast Indiana. Five Points Kennels (www.fivepointskennels.com) is a family owned business that strives to provide a stress-free experience for pet owners when leaving their four-legged family members for lodging, grooming and socialization in a safe, clean, loving environment outside of their home. Five Points Kennels is located at 3729 Five Points Road, Indianapolis.