El Chilero Auto Repair Benefits From Southwest Initiative Foundation Deed Loan Program

Entrepreneur Jose Lopez is expanding his auto repair business with help from Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Microenterprise Loan Program and DEED’s Minnesota Emerging Entrepreneur Loan Program. El Chilero Auto Repair is located at 526 North Ramsey Avenue in Litchfield.

Lopez founded the business in 2022 and later purchased his building from Doug Decker, who operated an auto repair shop for more than 40 years in the space. El Chilero offers routine maintenance, brakes, tires and transmission repairs for all car makes and models.

Lopez says despite being a new entity in the market, they’ve made significant strides thanks to exceptional customer service, competitive pricing, bilingual support and fast, quality work. He says they’ve already seen accomplishments in building trust and long-term relationships with their customers, underpinned by a commitment to excellence and attention to detail.

Before striking out on his own, Lopez gained experience working in a local dealership parts department. While there are several options for auto repair locally, Lopez believes El Chilero can uniquely serve the Hispanic community. He’s also catering to the needs of younger, tech-savvy drivers seeking convenience and transparency, as well as fleet owners and local businesses looking for reliable maintenance services.

Loan funds from SWIF provided working capital for El Chilero, including building renovations. Microloan clients also receive free technical assistance to improve their business management skills. Areas of support include business planning and financials analysis, accounting software training, marketing assistance and other training opportunities for the life of the loan.