Homegrown

Small towns do not always have access to the resources they need to stimulate growth in the community. In the case of Loomis, California, former resident Greg Brening believed he could help the town by opening Loomis Ace Hardware.

The town of Loomis had not had a hardware store since 2008. There was a long period where downtown Loomis was either empty or vacating. With the economic slowdown that accompanied the pandemic in 2020, the challenge of opening a new brick and mortar hardware store seemed daunting. But Greg had a plan.

"One of our goals in opening the hardware store was to give back," said Greg. "In every business model, there's always a line item to spend for marketing. We decided to spend that budget on giving back to the local community and schools."

Both Greg and his wife Jill Butler feel very strongly about supporting their community. Jill is also a teacher at Del Oro High School.

Being a small town, the education system was underfunded and needed the support of outside sources. Loomis Ace contributed to the elementary school, the high school, a burn victims institute, football, baseball, basketball, cheer, dance, water polo, lacrosse, and more.

"Whenever anybody at the school needs something, they know they can come to their local Ace Hardware and ask," said Jill. "Greg usually says yes."

"Greg has been one of our key community members in stepping up to help and volunteer by contributing financially to our programs," said Jamie Jackson, Assistant Vice Principal at Del Oro High School.

Greg also helped the high school by contributing to a scholarship fund and a new score board for the football stadium.

"For a business to succeed, you need the town to succeed, the community to succeed, and the schools to succeed," said Greg. "Giving back has always been a part of the plan."

Since opening in November 2020, Loomis Ace has donated over $80,000 to help the community.