Richmond resident Amos Louis learned years ago how to paint homes and fix up buildings, but turning those skills into a successful, growing business was a new challenge he faced several years ago.
Born in Haiti, Louis had lived in a slew of cities before coming to the Bay Area from Florida years ago. He had picked up different jobs over the years, from jewelry making on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley to light construction work. But without a steady career, it was difficult to make a stable living, and he struggled financially. When he started his own handyman and painting business about five years ago, he didn’t even have a car, having to travel by bicycle and pick up whatever tools he could.