March 26, 2025
Foley, Alabama – 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 award recipient by the Alabama District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding small businesses that demonstrate resilience, growth, and contributions to the local economy as is prepares for National Small Business week, which will take place May 4-10, 2025.
Founded in 2010 by Sean Chappell, a Veteran, Southern Sun Laundry serves hotels, restaurants, and condominiums with high-quality laundry solutions. 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, the building had a devastating fire destroyed its facility and equipment. Rather than shut down, Southern Sun Laundry leveraged the 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 pounds of laundry annually to 18 million pounds—allowing the company to serve
more clients, increase revenue, and create more local jobs.
“We are incredibly honored to receive this award,” said Sean Chappell, CEO of Southern Sun Laundry. “As a veteran-owned business, resilience and perseverance are in our DNA. Overcoming these challenges has made us stronger, and we’re proud to contribute to the Alabama Gulf Coast community.”
For more information about Southern Sun Laundry, visit https://southernsunlaundry.com/ or contact Sean Chappell at 251-943-5180 or sean@southernsunlaundry.com.
About Southern Sun Laundry
Southern Sun Laundry is a veteran-owned commercial laundry service based in Foley, Alabama, specializing in high-volume hospitality laundry for hotels, restaurants, and condominiums. Committed to quality and efficiency, the company continues to grow and serve the Alabama Gulf Coast region.
