Crest Haven Farm Market grows with SBA’s technical assistance and pandemic programs
Crest Haven Farm Market provides quality deli meats and local cheeses, homemade baked goods, frozen foods, dairy products, bulk goods, stromboli, hoagies, fundraisers, and candy to a loyal, devoted local community. Crest Haven is in its 52nd year of operation, and in its 6th year of ownership under co-owners Shawn Snyder and Scott Keefer. Scott and Shawn continue an important Crest Haven tradition of stocking their store with food from local vendors, supporting over 20 other local small businesses. Under their proprietorship, the farm market is more successful than ever before: sales and staff have tripled in the last three years, and a second location has been added in Bloomsburg.
Shawn Snyder and Scott Keefer met each other while working at a manufacturer in rural central Pennsylvania. Both grew up in the Susquehanna Valley. When the opportunity to purchase the farm market came around, they knew the time was right to pursue their dreams of business ownership.
As they considered taking the step of purchasing a business, Shawn and Scott reached out to their local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Bucknell University for assistance. Throughout the entire process of acquisition, consultants at the SBDC helped them craft a business plan, develop sound financial projections and analysis of expected usage of funds, and guide them as they received SBA-guaranteed financing from M&T Bank. SBA’s most common loan guaranty program is the 7(a) program. This is the best option when real estate is part of a business purchase, but it can also be used for short- and long-term working capital, refinance of current business debt, and the purchase furniture, fixtures, and supplies.
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted society and businesses alike, Crest Haven again counted on the SBA through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that helped them keep their employees on payroll and continue operations. During the pandemic in 2020 they added a second location to meet the needs and desires of a community afraid to shop in larger grocery stores.
“It’s a privilege to recognize the achievements of entrepreneurs such as Shawn Snyder and Scott Keefer,” said Steve Dixel, SBA Eastern Pennsylvania Director. “We are proud our SBA loan programs helped them purchase Crest Haven Farm Market and sustain the business during the pandemic. Scott and Shawn have demonstrated commitment to honoring the history of the business they acquired and the community they serve; and with the assistance from Bucknell University’s SBDC, they have dedicated themselves to growing Crest Haven Farm Market for the long term.”
“In addition to six years of SBDC consulting assistance across business planning and expansion, financial counseling and marketing advising, and human resource management advising; Scott and Shawn sought SBDC assistance as they applied for SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP),” said Steve Stumbris, Director, Bucknell University Small Business Development Center. “In the third year of operation, they saw the net worth of the business break into positive territory, and they are grateful to have had the opportunity to be building a community institution of tangible value not only to their community, but also to themselves, their families, and their employees.”
“They were able to break an early goal of $1 Million in sales in just their second year of operation, and their goal of hitting $5 Million in annual revenue seems not that far off,” stated Denny Hummer, Assistant Director, Bucknell University Small Business Development Center. “Their success can not only be measured in sales, employment, and net worth; but also importantly, in the many ways in which they consistently go above and beyond to serve their community.”
Crest Haven has frequently helped organizations such as schools, churches, and fire companies in their fundraising efforts. The company has donated products such as whoopie pies and offered low-cost materials for hoagies to help a variety of community group raise funds. The Danville & Riverside Food Bank recognized them for their service in helping those less fortunate during the pandemic.
The co-owners emphatically state that “Crest Haven would not have happened without the SBA!”
“We are exceptionally grateful for both SBA PPP funding and for the SBA-guaranteed loan through M&T Bank,” said Shawn Snyder, Co-owner, Crest Haven Farm Market.
“Our vision is to stay in business and keep growing for at least another 5 decades of success and service to our community,” added Scott Keefer, Co-owner, Crest Haven Farm Market.
Bucknell University SBDC provides entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Their events include training workshops on business startup and growth; and special programs featuring entrepreneurs and business owners throughout central Pennsylvania. Over the years, Bucknell's SBDC has helped countless companies along their journeys to become more successful. The SBDC program is a public/private partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and 15 universities and colleges across the Commonwealth.