Tyler and his family standing in the warehouse of what once was the Old Saunders Mill

BETHEL — Growing up with nothing inspired Earl Tyler to do something to change that dynamic. Raised in Greenwood, in 1968 he left to become a Marine. When he returned back to Greenwood, he needed a home. So he built one. Greenwood was good to him, Tyler says. Over the course of 52 years, he has established his company Tyler Concrete Foundations and Construction.

So when the opportunity presented itself to Tyler to buy the Old Saunders Mill, he purchased the warehouse and its 18 acres of land. Besides moving his business inside, he wants other business to join him as well.

“[If] 15-20 people [are] employed, I’d be happy as long as they’re bringing back the life [to Greenwood],” Tyler says, his chocolate lab running beside him.

He wants to give back to Greenwood, the community which had been so good to him. He envisions the warehouse holding multiple businesses that would employee many of the residents in Greenwood. He wants to bring back jobs.

However, he’s not rushing the process. “Taking time to see what I can do,” Tyler says, indicting he wants to chose the right businesses, not just any business. However, he is open to ideas.

His business now works with concrete. Why concrete?

“Because without a foundation you have no home. And a foundation is the key component of a home, so it’s been something I started, and I like working with concrete,” Tyler says.

“Any ideas making something happen,” he says about other businesses coming in, “let’s see someone’s dream come true.” He asks anyone with a business idea to reach out to him at 557-3785.