Entrepreneur of the Month
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Stephen James points out a baby shark moving within its translucent egg.
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The Living Reef
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Who knew? Beyond the brown grass and asphalt of a Lacey shopping-strip parking-lot, you can find an exotic and thriving underwater habitat, a nearly self-sustaining world where Clown Fish dart among coral. These are the aquaria at The Living Reef. Just step through the door and you will be surrounded by a cool array of salt and fresh-water environments, teeming with brilliant fish, coral, and invertebrates - even frogs and turtles. If you are lucky, Stephen James, the proprietor and "finder of Nemo," will coax the Moray Eel from its hiding place to rub its chin or show you the Stingray that usually hides in the gravel. "I like to play with the fish, so they get used to people. I usually wear the same color shirt, so they know it's me," he says, revealing his attitude towards fish and people alike. Stephen most enjoys giving advice and guidance to people buying their first tank, but aficionados come from as far as Everett and Puyallup to stock their aquariums.
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A Clown Fish - also known as Nemo.
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Stephen is the first to admit that none of this would be possible without Enterprise for Equity's Business Planning Training, micro-loan program and ongoing support. "Enterprise for Equity prepares you for your future in business without the nonsense. They give it to you like it really is. At the same time, I was given tremendous amounts of encouragement to take my idea to the next level." "The micro-loan was a crucial step in helping me get my business launched and without them it would still be on paper and not real." The Living Reef is the first recipient of an Enterprise for Equity micro-loan provided in partnership with the USDA and TULIP (Thurston Union for Low Income People) Credit Union. Stephen also custom-builds artistic and ecologically balanced aquaria of all sizes using coral, invertebrates, "living rock," and other organisms - in balance with brilliant fish. For those seeking more varied and brilliant fish Stephen can help design a salt-water system that needs little maintenance. The Living Reef also stocks a variety of creatures for freshwater tanks and ponds - from fluorescent Glofish to imported Japanese Koi to cute little Dwarf Frogs.
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Originally bred to help detect environmental pollutants and used to test the health of streams, lakes and rivers, Glofish add a brilliant splash to aquariums.
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Stephen sources his fish from sustainable aquaculture whenever possible and provides a variety and level of service not found at large chains. A simple aquarium can convert a child's obsession with a Disney film into an understanding of ecology, an empty shelf into a brilliant living piece of art, or, in Stephen's case, turn a temporary job at Petco into the fulfillment of a childhood dream. Even if you're not looking to create your own underwater paradise, it is worth it to visit The Living Reef just to see the Black Volitan Lionfish preen itself in the glass and kaleidoscopic schools of tropical fish dart between Acropora coral and giant clams.
Enterprise for Equity is a community supported nonprofit that
helps people with limited incomes start and sustain small businesses.
We grow entrepreneurs! Enterprise for Equity is an equal opportunity provider.
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