Third Sun Powers Up... in Ohio's Enterprise Appalachia

Geoff Greenfield, Third Sun Solar & Wind Power Ltd.

To reduce dependence on fossil fuels – which account for 85 percent of U.S. energy use – Americans have begun to embrace clean, renewable solar and wind power. And, Ohio's Enterprise Appalachia region is ahead of the curve in using renewable energy to power its economy.

More than a decade ago, Geoff and Michelle Greenfield built their 100 percent solar and wind-powered dream home in Athens County, Ohio. After a few years of installing solar panels for interested friends and neighbors, the couple formally launched renewable energy design and installation firm Third Sun Solar & Wind Power Ltd. in 2000.

Today, Third Sun is one of about a dozen green energy businesses taking advantage of Enterprise Appalachia's ideal selection criteria for business startups in: access to supply chain and markets, access to business capital and support services, access to knowledge and labor and access to a balanced life.

Fueling Family and Business Success

After living as far away as Portland, Oregon, the Greenfields settled on Ohio's Appalachian region as the ideal location to channel their passion for green energy into a thriving enterprise while enjoying close family ties. Their goals were to increase green energy use and job opportunities in a region that once depended almost solely on natural resources to fuel its economy.

The couple's recognition that nurturing a business required the same kind of attention as raising their two young sons coined an apt business name... the "Third Sun."

Adventures in Bootstrapping

In the beginning, funding presented a major obstacle for the "bootstrap" entrepreneurs. With a desire to retain complete ownership of Third Sun, the Greenfields built their business within the limits of internally funded growth. This put venture funding, found in abundance in Ohio's Appalachia Region, off the table.

To stretch every dollar, the "very frugal" couple attempted to do everything on their own – even creating marketing collateral with word processing software. "We most definitely lost some business because of these obviously homemade, in-house marketing attempts," Greenfield admitted.

Support Services Power Growth

Fortunately, Ohio's Enterprise Appalachia Region offered access to business capital and support services through TechGROWTH, which connects early-stage, technologically innovative companies with sources of capital and tools for growth. Business surged after TechGROWTH helped the Greenfields develop a business plan, hire a marketing firm and create a website. And an expanded revolving bank line of credit is critical to keeping up with growth.

"The money we have also goes further down here," Greenfield said, noting that their leasing costs are one-third of what a Denver, Colorado peer company pays.

Ready access to knowledge and labor also powers Third Sun's success. Working with Ohio University and its MBA student advisors, the company obtained affordable office and warehouse space as well as high-speed Internet and other key services by moving into the university's Innovation Center business incubator.

"Ohio's Enterprise Appalachia offers a highly educated, dedicated and motivated workforce both for our office level and line level jobs," he said. "There are a lot of talented, hard-working people here, and we get the best pick of them."

Despite the numerous business advantages, Greenfield admits the couple decided to stay in Enterprise Appalachia largely because access to a balanced life allows them to achieve professional and personal success without sacrificing one for the other.

"I can work a full, productive day at the office and still have time to enjoy life afterward," he said. "In fact, tonight after work I get to go mountain biking on one of the best trails in the state."

This balanced lifestyle has become a recruiting tool. "People are happy to get their families out of stressful urban areas. When moving to Appalachia, they cut their commute from 2 hours to 10 minutes, which affords much more time for family and just simply living life."

A Bright Outlook

Thanks to Enterprise Appalachia's business-friendly startup environment, Third Sun has become a thriving enterprise. A rising star on the Inc. 500 ranking of the nation's fastest-growing companies, the company has grown from two to more than 25 employees.

The Greenfields expect their employee roster to double over the next two years as Third Sun expands to access markets across the Midwest. "Our easy proximity to not only the major population centers in Ohio, but surrounding states as well, puts us at a distinct advantage over similar companies in less densely populated states," Greenfield said, referencing his location's one-day drive from 60 percent of the U.S. population.

Third Sun is just one of many start-ups that have discovered all the criteria for business success in Enterprise Appalachia. Build your business and love your life in Appalachian Ohio.

« Back to Executive Stories List