Blessed Valley Lodging is a start-up business in the Greene County area. The owner, Daniele Frye, has been driving a school bus for almost 17 years and has many fond memories of stories the children have told her over those years. Blessed Valley provides a unique lodging experience for a wide range of clientele. To start, the rental properties for Blessed Valley Lodging will be made up of two school buses remodeled for lodging purposes, on the waterfront. Each bus will have private parking available for two cars, with additional parking available a short walking distance from the rental.
In early 2023, Daniele contacted the Greene County Chamber of Commerce about a start-up loan for her potential Airbnb rental business. The Greene County Chamber referred Daniele to the Pitt SBDC to assist with financial projections and a business plan. While working on her business plan and financial projections, Pitt SBDC consultant Zack met frequently with Daniele and her daughter, Mercedes, to review sections of the plan, talk about strategic goals for the upcoming year such as her website, and potential uses for the funds if approved by the Greene County Industrial Development Authority (GCIDA).
In February of 2023, Daniele submitted her loan application to the GCIDA. She is currently looking to renovate the buses and begin renting them out to customers by the Fall of 2023. The University of Pittsburgh SBDC and Daniele will continue to work together in the areas of marketing, promotion, social media, and more as the business continues to grow. The SBDC is confident that Daniele and the rentals will continue to provide some of the best customer experiences for events, fishing, and other recreational activities.