For years, Alvin Davis spent his days managing a retail team, helping build profits for a major chain. But deep down, he knew he was meant to build something for himself.

“I’ve worked in retail for over 35 years,” Alvin recalled. “And I said, ‘I’m making money for everybody else, so I might as well go for myself — start a business for me and make money for myself.’”

In 2020, Alvin took that leap, leaving his job at Bed Bath & Beyond, where he had worked as a manager since 2005, to focus full-time on his business — Affordable Landscaping in Bastrop, Louisiana, a town in the northeastern part of the state near Monroe. But the business itself wasn’t new. Alvin had launched it in 2005, managing landscaping projects on the side while working full-time in retail. His team handled the work, but once he fully committed, Affordable Landscaping took off.

Alvin’s passion for landscaping began in childhood.

“When I was a little boy, we had dirt in the yard,” Alvin said. “And I dreamed, ‘One day, I’m going to have the most beautiful yard in the neighborhood.’”

Years later, that dream became a reality.

“When I bought my house, I relandscaped it, and everybody was like, ‘Who did your landscape? Who did your landscape?’” Alvin said. “And I said, ‘Well, I did my own landscaping.’ And that dream came true. I had the most beautiful yard in the neighborhood.”

Encouraged by his wife’s friend, Alvin decided to turn his talent into a business.

Today, Affordable Landscaping offers year-round lawn care and landscaping services, playing a vital role in large construction projects by completing the final landscaping touches before a site is finished. Alvin acts as a subcontractor for major contractors, and his business currently holds $659,000 in signed contracts.

However, securing contracts is only part of the challenge — funding them upfront is equally critical.

Alvin emphasized that access to working capital is critical to securing contracts. He explained that many projects require upfront purchases for materials and labor, well before any payment is received from the contractor. With payments often delayed by 30 or even 60 days after project completion, having adequate funding is essential to keep operations on track and fulfill contractual obligations.

Unfortunately, a lack of upfront funding once cost him a $750,000 contract.

Determined to never let that happen again, Alvin sought financing. A traditional bank loan didn’t work out, but a connection with Bob Bruggeman, Mayor of Texarkana and Loan Officer for Red River Credit Union, led him to the Lending Team at Communities Unlimited (CU).

Alvin worked with CU Senior Economic Development Loan Officer Chris Ranniger and secured a loan in January 2025 to cover inventory and working capital for upcoming projects. The funds have been used to purchase materials like plants, topsoil, mulch, rocks, and irrigation supplies, as well as fuel and wages to keep his team of eight full-time employees working efficiently.

He recently completed a major job for Live Casino & Hotel in Bossier City, using the financing to help with working capital for that project.

“Chris made it seamless,” Alvin said. “He asked for all the information. And I had all the information available. He made it happen really quick.”

The landscaping industry is booming, expected to grow from $608 billion in 2024 to $674 billion in 2025, according to The Business Research Company. Alvin is well-positioned to capitalize on that growth, and with the right support, he plans to scale his business to over a million dollars in contracts this year — and even more in the years ahead.

Who knows? CU may end up being his primary supplier for contract financing moving forward.