Dylan Monroe is pictured speaking to members of the Jamestown Local Development Corp. last week about a city loan for the company to move into the city.

Monroe and More LLC, a professional home improvement services company, has approached the Jamestown Local Development Corporation with a request for a loan to help the company move into the city, which is set to include them getting into the demolition business.

During Wednesday’s JDLC meeting, Dylan Monroe and Alex Duckett with Monroe and More came to the JDLC, giving an update on some of their current projects and talking about still working to relocate into the city.

“The last time we were in front of you, one of the points that was brought up was to bring our business into the city of Jamestown, as our home location is in Falconer currently,” Monroe said. “We are still taking steps to do so. We’ve looked at countless buildings and lease opportunities. We haven’t found the right one that fits our location, but we are in talks right now with a location here on Washington Street that seems to be the location we need.”

Monroe then talked a bit about the services they provide, and needing to look at providing some services at a competitive rate, including areas such as gutter installation and spray foam insulation. Helping the company improve in areas like this include looking into buying machinery to help speed up the gutter installation process, and cutting the cost in half. They are also working with Jamestown Community College to hire more people and pique their interest while still in the learning stage.

As far as the spray foam insulation goes, Monroe said three of four current projects they are working on have been delayed because of insulation contractors, and most of their customers ask for spray foam insulation. The company does offer insulation services, but does not currently offer a spray foam option.

A third thing that Monroe and More are looking into using a JDLC loan for is to help them enter the demolition market.

“We have actively been bidding and researching demolition services,” Monroe said. “Our data shows that we are competitive, but we can reduce costs and offer lower prices.”

Monroe then showed the JDLC their prices versus competitors, adding that getting a dump truck will allow them to reduce costs to customers, and place them among the top 10% of bidders consistently. They currently have to sub-contract out their dumpsters, with another payment to have to take it to the dump, and this addition of a dump truck will take out the lease fee for them, allowing for more control and saving some time.

“I think one of the reasons that we were supportive the first time they came to us, as we all know, we have issues trying to get enough contractors bidding on these demolitions and we can’t seem to get going fast enough and down fast enough because there just aren’t enough contractors to do them,” Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said. “So, you know, having another company that is able to provide us with competitive bids, and I could probably tell you what the top two lowest bids are in here. It’s the same two that are consistently bidding and have the lowest rates, because they can and they also kind of like to play a game and they like to out-bid each other.”

Having another company be able to enter the market and be able to offer another competitive bid option will help make up some of the time the city loses by always awarding the bids to the same two contractors, who need to finish one job before starting the next, Surdyk said. Growing the pool of contractors was also noted to help with the current delay in demolitions in the warmer months, where these same contractors are focusing on road work and other things besides demolitions.

Monroe added that their team is focused specifically on demolition and infill housing, and when given a project they would be there within two weeks compared to others who come in within 90 days.

As they work to get into the demolition business, Surdyk noted that Monroe and More’s other section of their business, which focuses on housing services, is separate but also intertwines with demolitions, compared to other companies that focus on paving work as well.

“We know we can’t corner the entire market but we’d like to be involved in the change and the process of trying to change the skylines of the city of Jamestown, especially the communities and streets that you’re dealing with right now,” Monroe said. “And that’s what it’s going to take; more people wanting to do more things.”

Monroe added that they did also get certification and are a recognized minority-owned business in the state of New York. The JDLC briefly discussed assets and the possibility of entering into a lease agreement for the property on Washington Street, as there are some questions when it comes to purchasing it.

Because the loan request is over $100,000 it will need to be taken to city council for secondary approval. The JDLC approved the request, and Surdyk said she hoped to get it on the city council work session agenda for the work session on Monday.