j-ref loans $220,000 to New Local Med Spa
Columbia, MD— February 28, 2008 — j-ref, a small business financier in Howard County, recently loaned $220,000 to Luna’s Med Spa, an extension of the services offered by Luna’s Day Spa, in Ellicott City. The loan will be used for laser equipment, leasehold improvements and working capital.

Luna’s Med Spa will utilize laser equipment to provide its clients minimally invasive or non-invasive aesthetic medical procedures in order to improve their appearance. Both spas are owned by Sonia Singh, a licensed aesthetician who has worked in the spa industry for 15 years.

Since 2001, Singh has been the owner and manager of Luna’s Day Spa, which is located at 9051 Baltimore National Pike, in Ellicott City. Luna’s Day Spa offers a variety of skincare treatments to its clients. Singh will perform the cosmetic procedures at the Med Spa, while a medical director will perform the medical treatments.

“By 2009, the number of cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures is expected to surpass 80 million,” says Michael A. Mobley, executive director of j-ref. “Sonia has done her due diligence and has the clientele that is requesting these services. j-ref is committed to helping business owners like her expand in the region.”

As defined by the International SPA Association, a medical spa is an institution whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment which integrates spa services, as well as conventional and complimentary therapies and treatments.

New Assisted Living Home Funded by Partnership of j-ref and CommerceFirst Bank
Columbia, MD— January 8, 2008 — j-ref, a small business financier in Howard County, and CommerceFirst Bank, recently partnered to co-loan close to $1 million to Dawn Home, an assisted living facility in Columbia, Maryland.

As part of its co-lending program, j-ref partners with local community banks on a transaction. In late December, j-ref loaned $175,000 to Dawn Home to help refinance the facility and provide working capital. CommerceFirst provided $802,000 for the refinancing of the mortgages on the property.

Dawn Home also received a $175,000 SBA guaranteed term loan for leasehold improvements, equipment and working capital.

Dawn Home is owned by Dawn Cooper, a registered nurse who was recently the director of nursing for Washington Nursing Facility in Washington, D.C., a 340 bed long term care nursing facility. The new 15 bed assisted living facility, located at 4994 Beaverbrook Rd., Columbia, plans to accept residents in April 2008.

“As the Howard County population ages, there is an increased need for assisted living facilities. j-ref financed Ms. Cooper because of this opportunity and her extensive experience in the field.” says Michael A. Mobley, executive director of j-ref. “We are proud to work with other financial institutions, such as CommerceFirst, to assist new local businesses in opening their doors.”

j-ref Supports New Childcare Center with Start-Up Loan
Columbia, MD — November 20, 2007 — j-ref, a small business financier in Howard County, has loaned One Love Childcare Learning Center, LLC, in Columbia $175,000.

One Love is a new daycare center that is an expansion of a home-based childcare enterprise, founded by Paulette Gunter. It is located at 7065 Deepage Drive in Columbia, the former site of Columbia Academy. Paulette is joined by her brother Sylbert Delroy Blackwell and her husband Winston Gunter in ownership. Paulette serves as president and executive director.

“We’ve supported start-up childcare facilities in the past and have been proud of their success and contribution to the community,” says Michael A. Mobley, executive director of j-ref. “One Love has the mission and leadership j-ref can stand behind.”

One Love’s mission is to foster the development of each child through positive emotional, social, academic and physical stimuli. It will host an open house on Saturday, December 1, 2007, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The grand opening is December 3, 2007.

Military Radio Comm Company Receives Second Round of Funding from j-ref
Columbia, MD— September 6, 2007— j-ref, a small business financier in Howard County, has loaned Syntonics, a radio communications company based in Columbia, $200,000.

Syntonics (www.syntonicscorp.com) designs, develops, and manufactures specialty radio frequency (RF) communications equipment and accessories primarily for the U.S. military. In March 2001, j-ref loaned the company start-up funds. This second loan of $200,000 will be used to support a new product line and provide working capital for a facility expansion and build-out.

“j-ref welcomes past borrowers who are expanding their businesses to return for funding,” says Michael A. Mobley, executive director of j-ref. “We take pride in companies like Syntonics that are growing and contributing to the economic development of the county.”

Bruce Montgomery is president of Syntonics and Edward O’Malley is vice president, finance and administration. The company was founded in 1999 as a "technology transfer" spin-off of The Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. Today, it is located on Red Branch Road with 15 employees.