We are so excited to introduce you to the second chance entrepreneurs participating in our Rise Up, Get Started Matching Grant program this year! Meet brothers Raval and Rafiel Carney, owners of Carney Brother’s Contracting.
Carney Brother’s Contracting is a commercial main water line valve installation company focused on maintenance of water meters, water valves and replacing and assembling fire hydrants. Raval and Rafiel started the business in March of 2021 and are currently in the exploration and planning stage.
Why are you passionate about your business? We both have extensive experience in the field working for other businesses in this industry. The work is fun and we’re good at it. We want to become business owners because our dad was an entrepreneur and this is a very profitable business.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far as an entrepreneur? There’s only so much we can do on our own, we need to build the right team.
What advice would you give to someone currently in prison who would like to do something positive with their life when they get home? Work hard and believe in yourself. Anything is possible.
Outside of your business, what is something that you all love doing? We love working on cars and traveling.
What does success look like for your business? We want to grow a multi million dollar company and expand to other cities.
Through our Rise Up, Get Started Matching Grant program, we are connecting each of the entrepreneurs with community mentors to help hold them accountable to their goals on their entrepreneurial journey. Thank you to Josh Levin, founder of Empowered Electric, for investing his time and wisdom into the Carney brothers!
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Determination, Incorporated is a 501C3 nonprofit in KCMO empowering formerly incarcerated people to seize employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in home building, home improvement, and affordable housing. To learn more, contact us here.
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