Longtime Automotive Experts Fire Up Their Own Enterprise

Straightline Automotive

Owners: Tim Hurd and JoJo Cruz

Address: 164 W Henri di Tonti Blvd., Tontitown

Phone: 479-361-2120

E-mail: [email protected]

Hours: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Startup date: Sept. 1, 2010

Those scheduled maintenance services auto dealerships recommend?

“Some are needed, some are not,” JoJo Cruz said. “We just want to sell customers what they need.”

Cruz is the service manager at Straightline Automotive in Tontitown. He’s also a co-owner, along with former area car dealer Tim Hurd, and has 25 years working at General Motors dealerships under his belt.

Cruz said he and Hurd started Straightline because of a desire to run a business like they think it should be run.

“Basically, we’re here to treat customers fairly – give them good service at a good price,” Cruz said,

Straightline’s crew of technicians is headed by industry vets Virgil Pianalto and Allen Bell. Appointments are preferred, but drop-ins are accepted.

Cruz said Straightline works on all makes and models, and does “anything from an oil change to replacing a motor.”

Hurd plans to add a small inventory of used cars in early 2011.

SBA Pens Guidebook, Announces Initiatives

The U.S. Small Business Administration and Microsoft Corp. have partnered to produce the Business Technology Simplified guidebook, a free publication designed to show how technology can bolster an entrepreneur’s chance for success.

The book is available in printed format at SBA district offices and via local SBA resource partners. It also can be accessed online in electronic form at www.sba.gov.

Former NBA basketball star Magic Johnson wrote the book’s foreword, which describes his business experiences and the value of utilizing technology to remain competitive. Johnson sold his share of the Los Angeles Lakers and his interest in more than 100 Starbucks franchises in October, reportedly for more than a combined $100 million.

The crux of the guidebook is explaining fundamentals of technology and how they can make businesses more efficient. Topics covered include simplification of tasks, do-it-yourself marketing, cloud computing and time management.

The SBA also recently announced two new lending programs aimed at getting modest loans to small businesses in a quick manner.

Applications for loans of less than $250,000, under the Small Loan Advantage are only two pages long and can be approved in “minutes” to 10 days, according to the SBA.

A second initiative, Community Advantage, hopes to get SBA-backed loans to underserved communities like minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses. Instead of banks, the program operates via alternative, community-minded lenders like nonprofit certified development companies and approved micro-lending intermediaries. Applications should be approved within 5 to 10 days.

Both programs are expected to be up and running by March 15.