Johns Family Enterprises, LLC (JFE) is a business located on the Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation in Okeechobee, FL. Founded by Stanlo Johns and two of his sons—tribal members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida—JFE holds a special connection to the land it serves. The company also includes the Seminole Tribe as a Class B Preferred Shareholder, further solidifying its deep roots within the tribal community.
In collaboration with McGill Environmental Systems, a well-respected operator in the composting and fertilizer industry, JFE established a state-of-the-art composting facility. The facility transforms recycled agricultural waste and other by-products into nutrient-rich compost and valuable end products that contribute to sustainable agriculture.
JFE leases 85 acres of tribal land under a long-term lease agreement with the Seminole Tribe. The 25-year lease includes options for renewal, a structure that is commonly used across Indian Country to stimulate economic growth on trust-status land. This partnership exemplifies the Tribe’s commitment to fostering local entrepreneurship and creating sustainable economic opportunities on the reservation.
Over the years, JFE has faced challenges, including severe weather events and increased competition, which disrupted its operations and delayed growth. In response to these obstacles, Native American Bank (NAB) utilized allocation provided by Five Points Community Capital, LLC to offer a solution through a NMTC enhanced product. This financial package featured several key benefits, including an exceptionally low interest rate of 3.75%, which reduced the rate on 90% of JFE’s existing loan balance.
The loan also provides interest-only monthly payments, allowing the company to improve its cash flow. These savings will provide JFE with the flexibility to focus on recovering from the economic impacts of previous hurricanes and operational setbacks. To further assist JFE, NAB also refinanced the remaining 10% of the loan, offering a fixed interest rate and re-amortizing the balance over the same 7-year period to align with the NMTC program’s terms. Without these critical financial modifications, JFE would have struggled to continue its operations, jeopardizing the jobs and economic stability on the reservation.