Virginia Mountaineer
DANTE, VA – AUGUST 5, 2026 – Property rehabilitation, renovation through site clean-outs, debris haul-off and job site prep aimed at getting vacant housing back on the market are at the core of K&A Customz, LLC’s activities according to Kristanne Mullins, who co-operates the business with her spouse, Aaron Jacobs.
K&A Customz, LLC is a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant. Seed capital grants are funded from regional funds received by VCEDA which are paid by the natural gas industry.
“K&A Customz, LLC operates as a construction-related trade business through a set of unique services designed to rehab property to help it to sell while at the same time salvaging, refurbishing and reintroducing usable materials recovered during property clean-outs,” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. “The business projects four full-time employees and four part-time employees within five years.”
In addition to the clean-out side of the business, Mullins said they also take some items from the clean-outs to refurbish and then to re-sell at their 16610 Russell Street, Suite 4 location in St. Paul, VA (the former Piggly Wiggly building). Materials recovered during cleanouts and refurbished reduce construction debris and support property rehabilitation and use. The storefront is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“One of the benefits of our business to the community is opening up more housing availability, getting items out of the landfill and repurposing items,” Mullins said. “We specialize in estate properties and homes that require clearing prior to listing on the real estate market.”
Mullins said she and Jacobs came up with the idea for the business after assisting family members with a large estate cleanout where the previous owners had accumulated a significant number of belongings over many years, creating what she said was an overwhelming situation for the family responsible for preparing the home for sale.
“During this experience, we recognized two key challenges many families face – the emotional difficulty of sorting through personal belongings and the time constraints faced by family members who often live outside the area,” Mullins said. “These barriers frequently delay homes from entering the real estate market for sale or lease.”
She added, “K&A Customz provides a compassionate and efficient solution by contracting with estates and property owners to clear homes, transport items and prepare properties for listing. Items removed from homes, are sorted and those which can be refurbished or repurposed are transported to our thrift store for resale.”
To date, K&A Customz, based in Dante, VA has provided services as far as Bluefield, VA. As the business grows, Mullins said plans are to add more cleanout crews to increase service coverage though the region and surrounding regions.
Mullins said the VCEDA grant is being used to develop a website to enable service bookings online, toward the purchase of a road tractor to be able to transport larger quantities of materials and debris in support of renovation and construction workflows and for operating expenses.
“The VCEDA grant is blessing,” Mullins said. “It will allow us to provide good quality service to the community.”
Mullins and Jacobs worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) in developing their application to VCEDA. They received a letter of support from the Wise County Industrial Development Authority.
“K & A Customz is addressing multiple needs within our region through services that benefit both the community and the local economy,” said Becki O’Quinn-Purdie, SBDC executive director at MECC. “Their clean-out services help families, heirs, landlords, and property owners prepare homes for sale, renovation, or reuse — an important contribution in an area where housing availability remains a challenge. At the same time, their thrift store gives new life to quality items that might otherwise be discarded, offering affordable merchandise to residents while promoting reuse and reducing waste.
“MECC SBDC enjoyed working alongside K & A Customz throughout the grant process and this VCEDA Seed Capital award will help them continue making a meaningful difference in our communities,” she added.
“The services provided by K&A Customz provide a much-needed addition to St. Paul and the surrounding communities,” said Wise County IDA Executive Director Brian Falin. “By supporting property rehabilitation and renovation, K&A is well positioned to make a positive impact on both housing turnover and availability as well as contributing to the overall appearance and viability of the community through site cleanouts and debris haul-off. The Wise County IDA is proud to have supported this application and looks forward to seeing the company’s positive community impacts.”
For more information about K&A Customz, interested persons may visit or message their Facebook page or call 276-298-6899 or 276-344-8639.
