North Park Inn & Suites
From the Marines to Main Street: A Veteran Entrepreneur’s SBA Success Story
When Marine Corps veteran Micah transitioned from military life to entrepreneurship, he wasn’t just looking for a new career — he was building a path to independence. What began as an idea to create financial freedom through small business ownership became a powerful example of how SBA lending can fuel local success and community growth.
After serving as a Marine infantryman and deploying to Iraq, Micah returned home in 2006 and started a career as a financial advisor. That experience helped Micah understand how business ownership can be one of the best routes to personal freedom. He was passionate about entrepreneurism, but taking that leap was the hard part.
A few years later, he found an opportunity that would change everything when he encountered a small hotel for sale in Walden, Colorado. The North Park Inn and Suites needed vision and capital. Micah, who had experience managing short-term rentals, saw potential where others saw risk. With the support of an SBA 504 loan from B:Side Capital and Mountain Valley Bank, he purchased the hotel in 2022 and began revitalizing it from the ground up.
“The SBA program made it possible,” Micah said. “The 504 loan allowed me to buy the property with a lower down payment and predictable, fixed-rate terms, something I couldn’t have done through a traditional loan.”
Like many small business owners, Micah faced unexpected challenges from structural repairs on historic buildings to fluctuations in the hospitality industry. But his determination, coupled with the stability of SBA 504 financing, allowed him to keep growing even through slower economic cycles.
Micah’s story is a reminder that small business lending isn’t just about financing. It’s about giving people the chance to lead, build, and give back.
“Owning a business is terrifying,” Micah said. “But that’s how you grow. It’s been 100% worth it. I’d encourage anyone to take the plunge. It’s scary, but that’s how you get better.”
