Construction is almost like playing with Legos for Arkansas builder Vernon James. On his job sites, he sees walls and beams going up like puzzle pieces, fitting together one by one.

“As a kid, Legos were my favorite toy — I would build beyond the set instructions and create my own things,” James said. “Construction feels the same way: every project is like a puzzle you get to bring to life.”

That early passion for building led James to start his own company. He is the founder and owner of KDJ Builders, a Conway, Arkansas–based firm specializing in both commercial and residential construction. His company handles everything from metal stud framing, drywall, insulation, and acoustical ceilings on large-scale commercial projects, to remodels, kitchens, bathrooms, and new builds for homeowners.

“We pretty much run the whole gamut,” James said.

Entrepreneurship runs in James’s family. He grew up watching his mother build a nonprofit that still operates today, a cousin branch out as a residential contractor, and an uncle manage rental properties in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Surrounded by examples of independence and determination, James set his sights early on becoming his own boss and charting his own path.

Around 2018, he connected with Communities Unlimited (CU) through a referral from a Little Rock community leader. He began working with CU’s Entrepreneurship Team and received a small loan from CU’s Lending Team to help establish the business.

“Since that time, I’ve stayed in touch with CU about ideas for expanding and strengthening the business,” James said.

That long-standing relationship proved vital in 2025 when KDJ Builders hit a cash flow crunch. Despite winning contracts, delayed payments left the company stuck on several projects. In May, James worked with CU Economic Development Loan Officer Candence Brooks to secure a large-dollar loan for working capital, supported by funding from Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses Program.

“It stabilized the business and gave me some runway to move forward on a project we were stuck on,” James said. “We had hit a financial roadblock because other projects hadn’t paid out yet, so our cash flow was almost non-existent. CU believed in me, loaned the money, and that infusion gave us a jumpstart to complete the project.”

“It’s a lifeline,” he said of the funding. “Without cash flow, you can’t move forward. That funding gave us the ability to relieve stress, continue projects, and uphold our integrity as a company. Once we commit to a project, we want to see it through no matter what obstacles come our way.”

Challenges remain, but James feels more secure with CU by his side. Although the loan provided relief, it covered only a fraction of what his company is still owed from other projects.

Even so, CU has continued to support him with guidance and alternatives to keep operations moving forward. Knowing he has a partner walking alongside him gives James confidence as he navigates the storm.

“I look forward to continuing the partnership in the future,” he said. “We’ll get through this season, rebound, and keep moving forward.”