Masonry Question......

I wouldn't shut down a family owned business that you have had in the family for 35 years just to move to the Islands. Are you retiring?? Isn't there someone else in the family that can take over the business or is it not profitable? Have you been to the islands and spent any amount of time there other than a week or two to see if it's a long term fit for you? Most don't make it past the 5 year mark. So there may be other options for you to be able to follow your dreams of adventure on a tropical island without wrecking your family business to do it.

I would say that there would be plenty of opportunities for your family masonry business on St. Croix. There is always work available for those that do good work and are honest. Bring it down.

We have been to St. Croix several times and have decided that this is for us. Just didn't know if we should continue the business on St. Croix. We are the final generation to keep the business going. Seems like there would be some opportunity to keep it going there! Also, we would employ people that live on St. Croix, so that is a plus right??

If you are a nice, respectful, patient person with a knack for managing people. You will find very talented people in the masonry field to employ. There will be some speed bumps, but you could make it work.

Check out the EDC benefits and see if they would be applicable for you and your company.

The EDC would not apply to starting a masonry company on STX doing work on the island (may still be a good idea regardless of course). The EDC, with a few notable grift exceptions that have been discussed here, are for firms that bring in revenue from outside the territory to the territory, employing people here in the VI and using VI suppliers for as many expense needs as possible. So to be eligible the revenue has to come from sources/customers outside of the territory (bringing the profits into the VI).

Quite a few local companies benefit from this so at least check it out. Can't hurt.

I know of more than a few local companies that do not depend on off island revenue who benefit from the EDC program -- I certainly suggest it as an option that may give you some incentive to create a business platform here.

http://www.usvieda.org/start-business/edc-tax-incentives

If you want invasive local government types telling you who you have to employ and how much charitable dollars you have to spend and with whom, go right on ahead to EDC. Although my company could easily qualify as an EDC beneficiary, I would never open myself or my company up to such an intrusion. There is more money to be made by not being EDC. The government here sucks.

edc is why a friend of ours folded his company on stt about 10 years ago

Bring the business here, not much competition for a "REAL" business, run by real business people.

It appears to me that most masonry products are imported.

Stay away from government assistance because of what caribstx says.

Just saying.

CD

This is just barely on-topic, but I've often wondered how feasible it would be to have a company that crushes empty bottles back into sand. I'm pretty sure that sand has to be shipped in from off-island (except in the cases of dredging channels) and God knows we send plenty of bottles to the landfill. Could be a good way for a new masonry business to get some grant money for start up?

The EDC would not apply to starting a masonry company on STX doing work on the island (may still be a good idea regardless of course). The EDC, with a few notable grift exceptions that have been discussed here, are for firms that bring in revenue from outside the territory to the territory, employing people here in the VI and using VI suppliers for as many expense needs as possible. So to be eligible the revenue has to come from sources/customers outside of the territory (bringing the profits into the VI).

Actually this is not accurate. there are many of the edc's who are businesses doing business solely on and with the VI...Asphalt companies, cement companies, used to be the stx dairy, bottle mfg, watch mfg, etc...along of course with many hotels, and then all the financial and investment and management companies, etc., whose clients do come from off island.
In order for it to make financial sense though, you need to be saving lots and lots in taxes, to justify the costs involved

This is just barely on-topic, but I've often wondered how feasible it would be to have a company that crushes empty bottles back into sand. I'm pretty sure that sand has to be shipped in from off-island (except in the cases of dredging channels) and God knows we send plenty of bottles to the landfill. Could be a good way for a new masonry business to get some grant money for start up?

Glass recycling has already been tried on STX. Didn't work out for whomever was trying it.

This is just barely on-topic, but I've often wondered how feasible it would be to have a company that crushes empty bottles back into sand. I'm pretty sure that sand has to be shipped in from off-island (except in the cases of dredging channels) and God knows we send plenty of bottles to the landfill. Could be a good way for a new masonry business to get some grant money for start up?

On STT years ago Devcon, the Concrete company had a dumpster on their site that was expressly for this idea -- they found that people just would not separate their trash and deposit only glass -- after paying to have the dumpster filled with garbage - not bottles - hauled off a few times and changing the signs a few times to try and convince people it was "glass only" they abandoned the idea.

On STT years ago Devcon, the Concrete company had a dumpster on their site that was expressly for this idea -- they found that people just would not separate their trash and deposit only glass -- after paying to have the dumpster filled with garbage - not bottles - hauled off a few times and changing the signs a few times to try and convince people it was "glass only" they abandoned the idea.

I suppose they could've gone a step further and collected bags of bottles from bars and restaurants. Also, I'd be willing to bet that the social climate may be shifting towards a public that is more inclined to make the effort. The aluminum can bin at the Peter's Rest transfer station (on STX) seems to be doing well.