Southern Sun Laundry Named SBA Small Business Of The Year

Foley’s Southern Sun Laundry, a veteran-owned business providing commercial hospitality laundry services along the Alabama Gulf Coast, has been named the Alabama Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year by the Alabama District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This award recognizes outstanding small businesses that demonstrate resilience, growth and contributions to the local economy. Founded in 2010 by Sean Chappell, a veteran, Southern Sun serves hotels, restaurants and condominiums. Over the years, the company has faced significant challenges but has emerged stronger, expanding its operations and creating more jobs in the community. In August 2021, a fire destroyed its facility and equipment. Southern Sun leveraged an SBA 504 loan to rebuild, expanding the size of facility and capacity by investing in advanced robotic laundry machinery. This expansion tripled its production capacity—from 5 million to 18 million pounds of laundry annually—allowing it to serve more clients, increase revenue and create more local jobs. The Alabama Small Business of the Year Awards, hosted by the Business Council of Alabama and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama, celebrate businesses that drive the state’s economy.