Justin Richardson owner of West Coast Equipment Repair, LLC in Cathey’s Valley received the Entrepreneurial Success Award in Fresno on May 26, 2010.  Richardson was one of five Central California businesses who were honored for their business achievements at the Annual Small Business Awards’ luncheon. the University of California, Merced Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network brought together business and industry, governmental officials and community leaders to congratulate the winners during The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Week.

West Coast Equipment provides mobile repair servicer to remote and outlying areas of Mariposa County. The repair services are broad with an area of expertise in construction and agricultural equipment.  Merely two years ago,  Richardson, a single father with no money to support himself and his children transitioned from working for someone else to owning his own business.  With a very small loan of $1,700, a single contract for $4,266, and one truck, West Coast Equipment Repair opened for business. Richardson had a clear vision on what he wanted to accomplish and began bidding on government and commercial contracts that have led to servicing 75 long-term customers and over 200 contracts.