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Bond County Realtors and Zayn’s Haven among forty-seven Illinois small businesses selected for the Illinois DCEO OE3 Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program 
 
Two clients of the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are turning competitive state grant awards into tangible investments in their businesses and communities.

Bond County Realtors LLC in Greenville and Zayn’s Haven LLC in East St. Louis were selected for funding through the Office of Economic Equity & Empowerment (“OE3”) Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The statewide program provides capital resources to eligible small businesses for infrastructure improvements, essential equipment, property acquisition and other projects designed to support business growth, operational efficiency, sustainability, job creation and retention.

Jo Ann Di Maggio May, Director of the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE and East St. Louis, is extremely proud of these awards and excited for the entrepreneurs that will benefit from this funding opportunity. “Behind every grant award is a business owner who dared to dream bigger and put in the hard work to make it real. These two companies didn't get here by chance—they got here through persistence, sound planning, and a genuine commitment to their communities. Watching that dedication translate into real capital for expansion and infrastructure is exactly why we do this work. This isn't just a win for these businesses; it's a win for the entire region, bringing new jobs, renewed investment, and fresh momentum to our local economy." 
 
The two businesses represent very different industries and communities, but their stories share a common thread: entrepreneurs with strong community ties, ambitious plans for growth and a willingness to navigate a demanding grant process with assistance from the SBDC. 
 
For Bond County Realtors, the grant is helping an established business invest permanently in downtown Greenville. For Zayn’s Haven, which is currently under construction, the funding is helping transform a vision for supportive community-based living into a new four bedroom residence for adults with developmental disabilities in East St. Louis.

Bond County Realtors Invests in Downtown Greenville

For Bond County Realtors LLC, receiving the grant has allowed co-owners Crystal Grove and Noel Harnetiaux to make a long-term investment in both their business and downtown Greenville. 
 
Neither Grove nor Harnetiaux originally planned to own a real estate company. Both began 
working at Bond County Realtors as secretaries before earning their real estate licenses and moving into sales. When the company’s owner died unexpectedly, they faced a difficult decision: allow the longtime local business to close or purchase it from the estate and continue its legacy.

They chose to keep it going.

Grove and Harnetiaux purchased Bond County Realtors in 2015, continuing a company that had already operated for more than 30 years. Today, the boutique real estate company focuses primarily on helping clients buy and sell residential properties while also handling select commercial and agricultural real estate transactions.

“We’ve kind of dialed in on what we do best and decided to focus there,” the co-owners said.

“Our business model is simple. We help you buy and sell real estate. We do it well.”

Their connection to Greenville made keeping the business there an easy decision. Both owners live in the community; their families have roots there, and their children attended local schools.

The state grant is now allowing Bond County Realtors to deepen those roots.

After operating from three rented locations since purchasing the company, Grove and Harnetiaux were able to purchase the historic building on the Greenville Square where their business is currently located. The investment places the company among businesses contributing to the restoration and revitalization of downtown Greenville.

“Because of the grant, we’re able to be a part of that, and we love that,” the co-owners said.

Improvements to the historic brick building are already underway. A new roof has been installed, masonry tuckpointing is being completed, and future plans include transforming the unfinished second floor into additional office space.

The expansion is particularly important because the company’s existing downstairs space is at capacity. Completing the upper floor will provide room for additional agents and support future business growth.

The opportunity first came to the owners’ attention when an SBDC representative spoke at their local Chamber of Commerce about available grant programs. Recognizing that their planned project might qualify, Grove and Harnetiaux began researching the opportunity and contacted Jo Ann Di Maggio May, Director of the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE, for assistance. What followed was an intensive application process supported by regular meetings with the SBDC.

Di Maggio May helped the owners work through lengthy questionnaires, clarify unfamiliar requirements, strengthen their responses, and review their application materials. When questions arose that required additional expertise, she connected them with resources that could provide answers.

“We definitely could not have done it without her help and her insight into how to correctly formulate our answers and write up everything for the grant,” the owners said. “The SBDC was instrumental in helping us make a really good presentation.”

Their experience also left them with advice for other small-business owners who may assume competitive grant opportunities are beyond their reach.

“Don’t be afraid to try it yourself and use resources like the SBDC, Jo Ann and other assets that are available to you,” they said. “You might be surprised by what you can do.”

Zayn’s Haven Builds a Vision for Inclusive Living in East St. Louis 
 
In East St. Louis, another SBDC client is using funding from the same state grant program to build something entirely different but equally rooted in community impact.

Zayn’s Haven LLC is currently under construction at 5900 Lake Drive in East St. Louis, across from Frank Holten State Recreation Area. The new four-bedroom residence is being developed as a community-integrated living arrangement for adults with developmental disabilities.

The project remains in its construction phase, meaning Zayn’s Haven is not yet operating from the completed residence. At the time of the SBDC interview, the owners anticipated construction would soon be completed. The grant funding is helping move the project from an undeveloped property toward a completed residential facility where the founders can put their vision into practice. 
That vision grew from a deeply personal experience.

The founders, Edra Cherry and sister Yashica Cherry, have relatives with disabilities and more than 25 years of experience working with people with disabilities, including experience providing respite care. They understood firsthand a question many families face: who will care for their loved ones as they grow older, and will those individuals have opportunities to live with dignity, independence and meaningful connection to their community?

“We wanted to have a home where family members wouldn’t have to worry about whether their loved one was being treated right,” the founders said. “We wanted them to have the same opportunities as we have in a community—to go places, be on their own and just live.”

Edra and Yashica intentionally chose East St. Louis for the project. Their vision extends beyond providing residential services; they want Zayn’s Haven to contribute positively to the community, increase awareness and inclusion of adults with developmental disabilities and create employment opportunities for local residents.

“I wanted something new in the community,” Edra said. “I wanted to make the community look good, and I wanted the community to be familiar with these adults with disabilities. I wanted to bring awareness.”

As construction progresses, what was once an undeveloped, overgrown property is taking shape as a new four-bedroom home—a visible milestone for a business that began as a conversation about providing better opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.

The founders’ relationship with the SBDC began before the grant opportunity emerged.

They first learned about the center during a community event at Jones Park. At the time, they had a clear vision for Zayn’s Haven but needed assistance organizing that vision into the business planning and documentation necessary to move forward.

After connecting with Di Maggio May, they began developing their business plan and learning about other resources available to entrepreneurs. The SBDC also introduced them to training opportunities, professional contacts, banks and potential funding programs. 
That groundwork became particularly valuable when they began applying for the OE3 Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program.

“There is no way we would have made it through that grant procedure if it had not been for her help,” the founders said.

Elements of the application, including sustainability planning and other detailed requirements, were unfamiliar. Through ongoing advising, the SBDC helped the founders understand what was being requested, identify relevant experience, and articulate the long-term viability and community impact of their project.

“Outside of us just having a dream or just a thought or a conversation about helping other people, Jo Ann turned that into a reality,” the founders said. “It was something that we thought about and were passionate about, and she and the entire team helped bring us to where we are now.”

With the residence now under construction, that vision is becoming tangible. Once completed and operational, Zayn’s Haven plans to expand community-based living opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities while creating jobs within East St. Louis.

State Investment, Local Impact 

Although Bond County Realtors and Zayn’s Haven operate in distinctly different industries, their projects illustrate the range of local impacts that can result when small businesses gain access to capital.

For Bond County Realtors, the investment supports property ownership, preservation of a historic downtown building, physical expansion and the potential to grow its team.

For Zayn’s Haven, the investment is supporting the construction of a new residential facility, expanded community-based living opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities and the potential for new employment in East St. Louis.

The Office of Economic Equity & Empowerment (“OE3”) Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program was created to help eligible small businesses strengthen their operations through capital improvement projects. The program supports projects including property and building acquisition, construction and renovation, infrastructure improvements, modernization, and essential equipment.

The success of the two Metro East businesses also highlights the importance of pairing access to capital with technical assistance.

Neither business hired an outside grant writer. Instead, the entrepreneurs brought their experience, ideas, and commitment to their projects, while the SBDC helped them navigate the complexities of planning, documentation, and the grant application process.

For the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE, the results demonstrate how no-cost business advising can help entrepreneurs identify opportunities that might otherwise seem inaccessible and translate those opportunities into investments with lasting local impact.

From the restoration and expansion of a historic building in Greenville to the construction of a new home designed to serve adults with developmental disabilities in East St. Louis, the two projects demonstrate what state investment can look like at the community level: stronger businesses, improved infrastructure, expanded services and new opportunities for growth. 
 
About Bond County Realtors LLC 
Bond County Realtors LLC is a Greenville-based real estate company primarily serving residential buyers and sellers while also handling select commercial and agricultural property transactions.

The company has served the community for more than three decades and has been owned by Crystal Grove and Noel Harnetiaux since 2015. For more information, visit bondcountyrealtors.com, call 618-664-4232 or email info@bondcountyrealtors.com. 
 
About Zayn’s Haven LLC 
Zayn’s Haven LLC is an East St. Louis-based business currently constructing a four bedroom community-integrated living arrangement for adults with developmental disabilities. The business seeks to provide a safe and supportive residential environment that promotes independence, dignity and community participation while creating new opportunities within East St. Louis. For more information, contact zaynshaven@gmail.com 
 
About the Illinois SBDC for the Metro East at SIUE 
The Illinois SBDC for the Metro East assists entrepreneurs and existing business owners operating throughout the nine-county Metro East region of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe and Randolph counties. The SBDC enhances the region’s economic interests by providing one-stop assistance through counseling, training, research, and advocacy for new ventures and existing small businesses.

SBDC offices in Illinois are funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement among the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as a service to the community. To learn how these no-cost services may help your business venture, contact the Metro East SBDC at (618) 650-2929 or sbdcedw@gmail.com

PHOTOS: Co-owners Crystal Grove and Noel Harnetiaux of Bond County Realtors LLC; Zayn's Haven LLC founders Edra Cherry and sister Yashica Cherry