Thursday May 24, 2007

A new animal hospital, a child-care center and a painting company were awarded business loans today from Louisville Metro Government.

The three low-interest loans, totaling $165,000, will bring business to neighborhoods that need them, Mayor Jerry Abramson said.

“People are moving downtown – and many of them have pets,” Abramson said. “The new Downtown Animal Hospital is a welcome addition that shows downtown is truly becoming a neighborhood.”

The Downtown Animal Hospital will open at 120-122 N. Clay Street in the Butchertown neighborhood. It’s a block from the Central Business District and about two blocks from the Liberty Green redevelopment.

This hospital, being opened by Dr. John Garrity and Dr. Kerry Garrity, will include a surgery center and behavioral and nutritional counseling. The doctors are receiving a $100,000 low-interest loan.

Kids 4.0, a new child-care center, is being opened by Maurice Blakemore and Michael Moss. It will be located near the Ford Truck Plant in eastern Louisville, which is closing its child-care center. The business is receiving a $50,000 loan.

Meanwhile, Reno and White Contactors, a start-up painting company, is opening at 825 S. Floyd Street. It is owned by Michael White and Clifton Reno, who are receiving a $15,000 low-interest loan to help them purchase equipment and material.

The loans were approved this morning by the Metropolitan Business Development Corporation. For more information, visit www.louisvilleky.gov/economicdevelopment