About You Physical Therapy

Physical therapist and owner of About You Physical Therapy in Rapid City, Laura Bonsness, recently purchased a previously vacant building on Sheridan Lake Road through the SBA 504 loan program. Now Laura is transforming the former funeral home into a state-of-the-art physical therapy facility and community education space. She first started working with WRBSC’s Small Business Development Center Regional Director, Dona Leavens, nearly a decade ago. Dona says, “Laura got the funding to start her business in 2010 and quickly began expanding it. She has added staff and has outgrown her current space. She’s a phenomenal businesswoman and a real go-getter.”

Laura worked with Pioneer Bank & Trust Senior Vice President, Rick Messer, and Black Hills Community Economic Development Director, Fran White, to obtain her SBA 504 loan funding for the expansion. Fran says, “This is a classic 504 loan scenario — going from leasing to owning your business space, as well as adding employees and different services. Laura’s really going to grow with it into the future.”

For Laura, who’s been in the field of physical therapy for 25 years, opening her own business “felt like a God-calling.” She cites good partnerships and a great team of staff through the years for enabling her to build her business: “It’s about the unity of the team and the gifts they bring and being passionate.” Working with Pioneer Bank and Trust and the SBA has been a “win-win” for her. “I’m most excited about the community outreach we’ll be able to do with the expansion. In the smaller facility we couldn’t do that.” In addition to physical therapy services, Laura plans to offer health education and have speakers in the new space.