A Lake City coffee shop has awarded its first franchise under a program that gives preference to military veterans and former law enforcement workers and firefighters.
Ellianos Coffee Company has eight locations in North Florida and South Georgia, and will add at least three locations through franchisee Catherine Tune. The first franchisee under the company’s HeroFran program, Tune spent 27 years working for the Florida Department fo Corrections, rising to the position of major.
Tune will open at least three Ellianos coffee shops in the next three years in Tallahassee and Thomasville, Ga.
The HeroFran program is for veterans, police and firefighters who have served at least four years and left the service under honorable conditions. The four-year requirement is waived if employment ended because of a service-related injury.
Those who qualify for the program are eligible for a 50 percent reduction of the franchise fee, down to $10,000, or no franchise fee on the fisrt coffee shop if they commit to opening at least three coffee shops in the next five years.
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