Alabama’s Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center recently recognized Washin Coin Laundry/Golden Springs Laundry Company with the organization’s 2019 Sustaining Small Business Award.
This award is presented to a business that – through “extraordinary contribution and unwavering commitment” – positively impacts the economic development of the local communities.
“The awards are a time for us to recognize and applaud area small businesses and their accomplishments,” according to the Calhoun County Chamber, which also annually salutes Lifetime Achievement, the Emerging Small Business of the Year, a Young Entrepreneur, the Non-Profit of the Year and the Small Business Advocate of the Year. “The Chamber created the Small Business Excellence Awards to showcase the achievement and impact of small businesses in our region. Each year, businesses with fewer than 75 employees are recognized for their creativity, vitality, stability and relevance. Equally important in selecting winners are civic involvement and responsiveness, mentoring, corporate responsibility, employee recognition and concerns regarding service issues.”
“Receiving this award is really a tribute to the many people who supported this business – a great staff and management team, support businesses in the area, family and, of course, the customers, many of whom I have known for years.” said Ken Barrett, president and founder of Washin Coin Laundry and Golden Springs Laundry Company.
Barrett started Washin Coin Laundry in 2010 with one location in Anniston, Ala. In 2011, he expanded with the acquisition of a second Anniston laundromat. However, with continued growth and limited space, Barrett added a third store, buying and renovating a facility in Oxford, Ala.
Since then, Barrett has opened two more vended laundries – giving him three stores in Anniston and two in Oxford. In addition, he established Golden Springs Laundry Company last year, which is a laundry pickup/delivery service for the area.
Furthermore, Ken is focused on making a difference in the Anniston/Oxford communities in which he serves, as evidenced by recent book drives and other childhood literacy and learning activities at his laundries.
“We provide a basic necessity for good health, which is clean clothes,” Barrett explained. “But we also want to be seen as a supporter of the community. Our focus now is on the children of the community and helping to build their futures through literacy.”
