“The benefits of operating in an REI-managed business incubator is really the facility itself. I looked in about a 50-mile radius for a facility and they just weren’t as good, and here people actually care you’re your success,” said Chris Covington, owner of Mail Tech, a company providing direct mail products and services. Chris said other benefits he enjoys are the lower start-up costs, REI’s equipment program and the assistance he gets along the way. He said he was also pleased with the efficient application and approval process when he used the equipment program.

Wesley Rainey, his wife Carissa and their two sons have moved into a three-bedroom home. Wesley is a truck driver for Advance Food Company, Enid, OK. He utilized the company’s housing benefit plan, and REI’s Employer-Assisted Housing Incentive. “We could not have bought this house without the assistance we received through these programs,” Wesley said. “It was such a smooth process and we’re paying just a little bit more in house payments than we were in rent but we have the freedom to do what we want and we are building equity to help us down the road when we need a larger house for our growing family.”

Roll Offs, a Durant manufacturer of commercial and residential dumpsters, established a benefit plan to help eligible employees become proud homeowners. The manufacturer utilized the Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH) Incentive offered by REI in partnership with USDA Rural Development. Roll Offs plan administrator, Kim Castro utilized the EAH Incentive and her family moved into a three-bedroom, two-bath home in Durant. “Setting up the plan at Roll Offs was easy with the assistance we got from REI” Castro said. “Using the program was an incredibly smooth process and we considered the home buyers education class another bonus to using the incentive.”