The former owner of The Whitcomb in St. Joseph has started a new business. Eric Hansen launched Sunset Coast Lawns in early April, about three years after closing his last lawncare company in the Chicago area and about a year after selling The Whitcomb. He tells us since moving permanently to southwest Michigan, he decided it was time to get back into business with Sunset Coast Lawns. It’s starting to take off.
“We’re starting to do things,” Hansen said. “We’ve got a number of places we’re helping out. The St. Joseph River Yacht Club, which I’m involved with. We’re taking care of them. We just picked up the Elks, so we’re starting to work with them. So, it’s just word of mouth at this point in time.”
Hansen says Sunset Coast Lawns does just about everything you’d need for a lawn.
“It’s the fertilization program, which is the basis of all the things we can do. Then it goes into overseeding, grub and insect control, fungus control, and soil testing and things like that.”
One focus of the company is organic fertilization, which Hansen said is putting more nature into nature.
“It didn’t seem like it’s something that is being offered here in Berrien County. We have a lot of the big companies, which are doing regular chemical fertilization apps, but not getting into the organics, which I think is important.”
The business is located at 350 Gray Street in Benton Harbor, not far from the St. Joseph River and in an Opportunity Zone, which is an area of a community designated for revitalization through special tax incentives for investors. Hansen says he hopes that will help him grow Sunset Coast Lawns.
“In talking with Cornerstone Alliance and others in regards to who’s done this, I said, ‘Hey, we’re in an Opportunity Zone. Can I speak with other people who have taken advantage of this program? As of last year, there was nobody that took advantage of it yet. So, we’re looking forward to at least trying to hire employees from the community as we begin to build up.”
Right now, the business is just Hansen. He tells us now that the company has launched it’s growing in customers and ready to promote itself and to commit to the Benton Harbor community. You can find out more about the company’s services and get a quote at SunsetCoastLawns.com.
