Takeuchi-US hosted the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Manufacturing Express national tour at its compact track loader production facility in Moore, S.C. on Aug. 27 thanks to AEM’s recognition of Takeuchi-US as industry leaders for its contributions to the local community and manufacturing industry.
Takeuchi-US also celebrated the production of its 10,000th compact track loader, a TL12 model, at the event. The Moore facility opened in September 2022. Takeuchi’s employees signed the interior of the TL12’s rear cover, and soon, the one-of-a-kind 10,000th machine will be delivered to a Takeuchi customer.
U.S. Rep. William Timmons, 4th District, South Carolina spoke at the event, noting the importance of manufacturing in Spartanburg County and thanking Takeuchi-US for putting its faith in the Moore community by locating its compact track loader production facility there two years ago. Several other dignitaries were also on hand for the festivities, including:
- David Britt, Spartanburg (S.C.) County Council vice-chairman
- Allen Smith, president & CEO, OneSpartanburg,.
- Kyle Sox, vice president of industrial development, OneSpartanburg.
- Katherine O’Neill, chief economic development officer, OneSpartanburg.
- Dwayne Hatchett, director of existing industries, OneSpartanburg.
- Cole Alverson, administrator, Spartanburg County
- Carter Smith, advisor, OneSpartanburg.
“As proud AEM members, we believe in the importance of American manufacturing, and we were pleased to host the AEM Manufacturing Express tour,” said Jeff Stewart, president of Takeuchi-US. “We enjoyed celebrating our employees and the Moore community while highlighting our contributions to the local, regional and national economies. We’ve only been open for business in Moore for two years, but we’ve already manufactured 10,000 machines and now employ more than 150 people here. We thank our local policymakers for joining us at this celebration and learning more about how we’re helping drive innovation and economic growth in this region.”
Takeuchi-US was the 43rd stop on the AEM Manufacturing Express tour, which will visit 80 manufacturers across 20 states. The tour showcases the cutting-edge technology and innovations that power modern equipment, as well as technologies, processes, people and products that are setting new standards in the industry across the U.S.
“We were thrilled to join so many community leaders and supporters of Takeuchi-US at this amazing opportunity to highlight the importance of American off-highway equipment manufacturing in Moore, South Carolina,” said AEM President Megan Tanel. “The AEM Manufacturing Express is more than just a bus tour; it is an opportunity to tell the stories of the men and women of our industry in the Greenville area and highlight how their grit, determination and can-do spirit has contributed to the American way of life.”
Weed Man launches inaugural Grassroots Giving food drive
Weed Man, No. 11 on the 2024 LM150 list, will soon begin its inaugural Grassroots Giving food drive which will see Weed Man franchises across North America partner with local food banks to collect non-perishable food and household items for donation from Sept. 3 to Oct. 18 — dates may vary by location. Building upon the success that many franchisees have already achieved with individual food drives, Weed Man aims to make an even bigger impact with this brand-wide initiative.
“The impact we’ve seen our franchisees make in their communities through various giveback initiatives has been nothing short of inspiring,” said Jen Lemcke, CEO of Weed Man. “By working together on a system-wide level, we can amplify that impact even further. This initiative challenges us all to unite in support of a common goal that benefits the communities we serve.”
To participate, customers are encouraged to leave their food donations at their front porch on the day of their lawn service. Donations will be collected by their Weed Man technician to benefit the local community food bank.
The Grassroots Giving initiative seeks shelf-stable, non-perishable items, such as canned goods, pasta, rice, peanut butter and more. Customers should consult their local Weed Man location for more details, including their local food bank partner, requested items for donation and the dates of their local Grassroots Giving campaign.
At the end of the food drive, each Weed Man franchisee will weigh the total amount of food collected during the campaign to showcase the collective impact made in each community.
“The decision to host a system-wide food drive was clear given the high rate of food insecurity in both the United States and Canada,” added Lemcke. “As local businesses, we take pride in being integral parts of the communities we serve, and we’re committed to giving back in any way we can. This is an opportunity to provide essential support to those in need and truly make a difference.”
LandCare Education Assistance Foundation (LEAF) names 18 Recipients of the 2024 LandCare Scholarship Program
Open to first-generation college students who are children of team members, LandCare, No. 14 on the 2024 LM150 list and a provider of commercial landscape services in the U.S., selected 18 new students to receive scholarship awards for the 2024-2025 school year, marking the largest number of new scholarships granted since the program’s inception in 2022 and bringing the total number of students currently receiving awards to 26.
“Our team members value their children’s futures, so we’re here to ensure they know about LEAF’s support from childhood literacy and college prep to scholarships,” said Camila Alvarez, LEAF program director. “Every time I see a student light up with the realization that their dream of higher education is within reach, it’s incredibly emotional. It’s not just about providing financial assistance or academic resources; it’s about seeing these young people, many of whom have faced significant obstacles, step into a future they once thought was out of reach. Every step forward for these students feels like a victory for the entire community.”
Including the $67,500 in scholarships awarded this year, the LEAF Foundation awarded $124,500 in scholarships to a total of 49 students since the program’s launch. In May, the scholarship program celebrated its second graduate, Moris Cruz, a 2022 and 2023 scholarship recipient, who received his risk management and insurance degree from the University of Georgia. Aligning with LandCare’s mission to support students nationally, LEAF’s latest group of recipients will attend schools in 12 different states, from California to Connecticut.
“These scholarships are one key way of helping the families of our team members overcome the barriers to higher education,” CEO Mike Bogan said. “The significant growth in applicants this year is exciting, as it means we’re reaching more people and changing more lives. But we know it’s just the beginning — the path to college starts at an early age, and we’re committed to expanding our programs to remove all the obstacles we can identify.”
Jobber’s Grants For Demonstrating Business Excellence program awards $150,000 to 15 home service pros
Jobber, a provider of home service software, named 15 recipients of its $150,000 Jobber Grants program. Entrepreneurs were selected from thousands of applications and rewarded with $10,000 USD each to help accelerate the growth of their home service businesses and shine a light on their leadership, innovation and community impact.
“At Jobber, we’re passionate about empowering small businesses to thrive,” said Sam Pillar, CEO and co-founder of Jobber. “The Jobber Grants program is one of the ways we’re supporting and encouraging the hardworking entrepreneurs who drive our communities forward. It’s more than just financial support — it’s a commitment to helping business owners achieve their dreams and build lasting success.”
Jobber has reviewed tens of thousands of applications since 2020 and has awarded 100 plumbers, painters, arborists and more across the U.S. and Canada with $600,000 in free grants. A judging panel carefully evaluated this year’s recipients and selected winners in four categories: Home Service Heroes who keep homes and offices safe and running smoothly; Career Builders who help hardworking people build meaningful careers; Smooth Operators who prioritize technology and innovation to run a smooth business; and Community Caretakers who give back to the communities where they live and work.
The 2024 Jobber Grant recipients are:
Career Builders
- Kerri Hopkins, Love Every Leaf Landscape Design (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
- Salim Bagabe, GreenCare Tree Service (Kitchener, Ontario)
- Candace Langham, Cleaning Tech Pros (Fishers, Ind.)
- Jay Rawls, Jay’s Lawn Care (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Smooth Operators
- Jason Zinn, Modern Lightscapes (Carlsbad, Calif.)
Loving to host tour for NALP Elevate 2024 Conference in Charlotte, N.C.
Loving, a landscape and sod farming operation, will host a tour during this year’s National Association of Landscape Professionals Elevate 2024 Conference in Charlotte, N.C. The tour will feature an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at Loving’s Landscaping Operations in the Carolinas.
Attendees will explore Loving’s Landscape Division headquarters just minutes from Uptown Charlotte and gain insight into all aspects of Loving’s journey. Additionally, attendees can expect to leave with a greater understanding of how Loving approaches recruitment and retention, onboarding, employee engagement, fleet management and customer success.
“We are honored to host a tour for this incredible event,” said Mike Haynes, founder & CEO of Loving. “The NALP events are world-class, and we’ve learned a lot over the years that can tangibly help businesses in our industry. With that said, we also love to hear and learn from others. It’s what makes our industry so special. We truly hope every participant leaves our shop better than they came.”
Attendees must register for the event to attend the tour. In addition to gaining valuable insights, one lucky attendee will also have the chance to win an exclusive Loving swag bag filled with company-branded gear, according to the company.
