Meet Josh.

When Josh Sanders decided to start his own construction business, he wasn’t planning on COVID. Sanders was born and raised in rural, southern Pennsylvania and he saw the initial shutdown have a drastic impact on the economy.

“It’s something I wanted to do for years,” he said. Growing up he worked for his family’s construction company, Sanders Construction, and found he was exceptionally good at details. Two years ago, he and his wife, Becca, bought and renovated two homes in a nearby town. Both sold quickly, and Sanders said he thoroughly enjoyed the project.

“I was able to turn something unwanted into something updated and desirable again,” he said.

The pair decided to go for their dream of owning their own business. Sapphire Homes became their focus, and the past year has been countless hours of preparation, late nights, juggling two jobs and three kids. And then COVID happened. 

“I had to file for unemployment for the first time in my life,” he said. “It was heartbreaking. I didn’t know if we could make this work. I was about to finalize my time with Sanders Construction, officially start Sapphire Homes, and everything came to a screeching halt.”

Like many small business owners, the shutdown was difficult. But Sanders decided to make the best of it. He threw himself into Sapphire Homes, even renovating his own house, a project he had intended to get around to eventually, to build his individual portfolio. 

This fall, though months delayed and still in the midst of a pandemic, Sanders is excited to launch.

“It’s been a lot of prayer and hope that this is the right thing to do,” he said. “But that’s what is great about this area. We thrive on small business. We thrive on family business. COVID will eventually go away, and we are going to move forward with our dream. I wouldn't want to be in this situation anywhere else."