LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — After being forced to lay-off some of his own workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a local man has pivoted to a more timely venture.
Mike Hall and his business partners now own and operate a disinfecting business called Pure UV, helping disinfect everything from schools to ambulances using UV technology.
Hall, who is a home builder by trade, and also owns a bar in Versailles, never thought he would be in the business of UV disinfecting.
But that is just how 2020 has gone.
"In 24 hours in early March, I laid off five people in home building and the bar business, and I didn't really like doing that. So, I came in on a Monday morning to my Monday morning construction meeting, and we started talking about starting a disinfecting company," Hall said.
Born out of necessity, their new disinfecting business took off, and after partnering with an engineer who was laid off due to the pandemic, they have added the UV component helping Pure UV take shape.
"We were able to bring two people back to work, and also hire two new people, so that's been great,” Hall said. “It's a lot of hard work, so we didn't sleep for probably the first month."
Hall said UV light is proven to disinfect, and it has been used for decades in things like hospital and industrial settings. UV light kills everything from the flu and common cold to, yes, COVID-19.
Now, Pure UV is bringing the technology into everything from houses and apartments to gyms and schools to help people begin to get back to business as usual.
"Pathogens basically cannot live in its presence," Hall said of UV light. "So if it sees your coil it kills mold, it stops bacteria, viruses and allergens of course."
In just minutes, one of their surface devices can disinfect an entire classroom. Another style can be installed in HVAC units. All of Woodford County ambulances will have Pure UV's product on board, and they are working with several area schools as well.
Hall said it has been exciting to develop this new venture, especially in such a turbulent and necessary time. He said it is something they see being useful for years to come.
"I think anybody that thinks we're not all going to be affected by this has got their blinders on, so it feels really good to be able to do that,” Hall said. “We just want to continue to grow and help as many people as we can."