Forged for Growth: How Larson Steel Used an SBA 504 Loan for Manufacturing in Illinois to Build a Legacy
Mark and Sarah Larson did not set out to build just another business. They set out to build something that would outlast them. With decades of industry experience, a shared entrepreneurial drive, and an SBA 504 loan for manufacturing, Larson Steel Products has grown from a six-person startup into one of the region’s fastest-growing steel fabricators with 19 employees. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
For the Larsons, the company was never just a business venture. It was about creating opportunity for their family, their employees, and their community. Drawing on decades of industry experience, an entrepreneurial drive, and with the support of SBA 504 financing, the Larsons turned a vision into a thriving operation that is helping people reach milestones they once only dreamed of.
From the Shop Floor to Business Owner
Mark Larson always knew he wanted more than a career. He wanted to build something lasting. After 25 years in the steel industry, the Justice, Illinois native watched manufacturing shift as automation and e-commerce opened new opportunities across the sector. In 2022, he decided it was time to own his own factory.
Together with Sarah, he launched Larson Steel Products with a vision of building not just a successful business, but a legacy his family could carry forward for generations.
While Mark brought decades of hands-on experience to the shop floor, Sarah brought a different kind of strength. A Burbank native, she started her career at 19 with a major global bank in downtown Chicago, developing the operational and financial expertise that now helps drive the company’s rapid growth.
Today, Larson Steel Products specializes in steel fabrication, cutting, bending, and painting, delivering precision manufacturing solutions while rapidly expanding its footprint in the industry.
How the SBA 504 Loan for Manufacturing Accelerated Their Growth
Much of that growth accelerated after the company secured SBA 504 financing. The loan allowed Larson Steel Products to expand into a 40,000 SF facility featuring a state-of-the-art paint and powder coating operation, now one of the five largest paint and powder coating processors in the country.
Despite the company’s pace of growth, Mark and Sarah say the financing process itself was surprisingly straightforward.
“Our First Choice”: What the Larsons Say About Working with Growth Corp
When asked whether they had considered other financing options, the answer was immediate.
“Growth Corp and the SBA 504 Loan Program were our first choice,” the Larsons said. They described the process as simple, organized, and far less overwhelming than they expected.
When their loan was approved, the excitement was immediate, not only for what it meant for their business, but for the opportunities it would create for others.
Building More Than a Business: Jobs, Milestones, and Community Impact
For Mark and Sarah, success has always been measured by more than revenue. Some of their most rewarding moments have come from watching employees hit personal milestones they once thought were out of reach.
“Watching our employees do things they’ve never been able to do before, like buy a new car or purchase their first home, has been incredibly satisfying,” Mark shared.
Another standout moment came when Larson Steel Products was featured on the iconic Chicago Cubs marquee, a proud milestone that captured just how far the company had come in such a short time.
Beyond the business itself, Larson Steel Products has made a real impact in its community through job creation and economic opportunity. In just a few years, the company has more than doubled its workforce, providing stable careers and strengthening the local economy.
Advice for Other Illinois Manufacturers
Looking back, Mark credits much of the success to hard work and the relationships they’ve built along the way. His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: “Take advantage of professional associations and your local chamber of commerce. The networking opportunities have been invaluable.”
For the Larson family, the journey is still just beginning. But the company they’ve built from the ground up is creating exactly what they had hoped for from day one: opportunity, growth, and a legacy that will outlast the next generation.
Ready to Expand Your Manufacturing Operation?
If you are an Illinois manufacturer looking to purchase a building, add a facility, or finance major equipment, Growth Corp can walk you through the SBA 504 process from start to finish.
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