504 Success: Dreams Do Come True
Making dreams come true is Neil M. Goldberg's business. Over a decade ago, he created Cirque Productions and Dream Studios in Pompano Beach, Florida, and became the first American company to produce European, theatrical and cirque-style shows for corporate events, theatres and tours nationwide.
A long-term business goal of Goldberg's was to transform his companies into one state-of-the-art production, rehearsal, training, design and manufacturing complex. He needed smart expansion financing options and turned to Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (FFCFC) and its 504 loan program to fund the $1 million purchase of the land and building he had leased for the past nine years.
"Neil and his companies came to us because of our reputation for quick turnaround between application and approval and because of the savings in cash and working capital offered by the 504 loan program," said Claire A. Huse, Senior Vice President of FFCFC and the Credit Underwriter for this loan project. "The ability to include appraisal, environmental audit fees and closing costs into the project, plus having to put up only 10% cash equity, saved him a sizeable amount of cash and allowed Neil to use this savings to further expand his theatrical businesses," she said.
Goldberg has produced events for the Super Bowl, the Miss Universe Pageant, the Walt Disney World Company and thousands of private and corporate functions worldwide. He has worked with Dick Clark, Liza Minnelli, Joan Collins, Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor, Gloria Estefan, Bob Hope, Mohammad Ali, Christopher Reeve and others on productions for NBC, ABC, CBS, charitable events and projects spanning the globe.
Currently, Cirque Productions also operates Cirque Ingenieux in Atlantic City, New Jersey; Cirque Branson in Branson, Missouri; and Imaginique, an outdoor nighttime theme park in Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia.