Local dry cleaner looking at federal funds for expanding business

By Chris Fortune

A federal grant could provide a lifeline for East Hills Cleaners, which is growing to better serve its customers.

The Community Development Block Grant provides grants to cities through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. St. Joseph is permitted to allocate funds to small businesses through the program to support their expansion and additional hiring of employees.

East Hills Cleaners could receive $20,000 from the program. The business at 3603 Faraon St. has been open for over six years.

“We have recently expanded to 2327 Frederick (Ave.), and while I was going through the process of gaining my license and having conversations down at the City Hall, I became aware that there were different opportunities for small business,” owner Tonya McCrea said.

McCrea said she could use all the help she can get because operating a small business is difficult in today’s economy.

“My industry is one that someone can do without,” she said. “If they have to do without something, it might be dry cleaning.”

If East Hills Cleaners receives the grant, it will go toward hiring two employees and buying new equipment.

“We are in expansion mode,” she said. “We can always use new equipment. I’ve been in business for six and a half years. I’m due for new washers and dryers.”

The decision to disburse the funds was tabled for two weeks at Monday’s city council meeting.

“It would be great relief for my business, East Hills Cleaners,” she said. “It would be very beneficial. The No. 1 cost within my industry, within my business is labor costs.”

McCrea said using grant money as intended is the most crucial part of receiving funds from the city or government.

“We have to be able to look somebody straight in the eye and say, ‘This is what I did with that money, and I thank you for that, I appreciate it, and I’m going to make this community better,’” she said.

The community is helping East Hills Cleaners thrive. McCrea said the dry cleaning industry is declining, but her business has been an outlier. It has recently been averaging over 100 customers per month.

“I’ve just been successful because the community has supported me,” she said. “My staff does an amazing job — they get the credit. But I believe in our community, and I give back everywhere I can and where it makes sense.