Page 12 - 2018 CHFA Community Report

katie and angela

Hays and Strode Law, P.C. offers family law services and was founded in 2014 by Katie Hays and
Angela Strode. The firm is based in Rifle and serves Rio Blanco and Garfield counties. When
Katie and Angela chose to purchase property to operate their firm, a friend referred them to
CHFA, they formed an LLC to own the real estate, and then obtained financing through CHFA’s
Rural Development Loan Program.
“The loan
“The loan from CHFA enabled us to purchase our office space and be in control of our
own destiny,” said Angela. “The financing has a reasonable payment, and that has from CHFA
allowed us to have money to make upgrades to the property and establish our finances.
enabled us to
This has helped us become successful and serve more clients,” added Katie.
Hays and Strode is a member of the Rifle Chamber of Commerce and very active in the purchase our
community. Angela and Katie also attend the local high school’s job fair every year and
office space
regularly speak at classes.
“Because we’re attorneys, professionals, and women, we feel strongly that we should and be in
talk with students to hopefully inspire and show them they can earn a degree and be
professionals too, no matter what their situation is,” said Katie.
control of our
CHFA’s loan program helped Hays and Strode build a foundation for their business and
set them on a path for continued success. The owners say that eventually they may want own destiny.”
to operate an additional location and add to their team. Angela explained, “We’re really
excited to grow this business. We’re both motivated to work hard, achieve and succeed,
and build an even stronger reputation in our community.”

2018 business finance economic impact

36% 607

66% 1-5 rural jobs impacted
business
size by 28% 6–20
number of
employees 6% 21–100 64% $86M
<1% 101+
urban related economic
activity
8