Owner Talks Serving Local Rochester Community
Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
Culligan Water of Rochester has proudly served Fulton County since it opened in 1959, and the Downs family has operated it with an emphasis on community since they took it over in 1978. Grant Downs runs it today, and he represents the third generation of Downs men to do so.
“In 1978 Jim Downs II [became owner],” says Grant, who became owner in June of 2019. “My dad, Jim Downs III, took over around 2000-2001. He passed in 2014. It was run by a non-family member for the last five years but overseen by family members.”
While Grant co-owns Culligan Water with his grandfather and his brother, Grant runs the office on a daily basis. He took over in order to stay involved in the local community. Driving an hour and a half to Fort Wayne for work every day started to wear on him, and coming to work in Rochester at his family’s business was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
“It was an opportunity to get involved in the community, run the family business and be around more – really just carry and continue on the Downs family name in the business,” Grant says.
And Grant certainly has gotten involved in the community. Culligan Water has a local community fund for a scholarship in his father’s name. Additionally, the company sponsors a little league baseball team and a youth softball team. Culligan focuses on youth sports, donating water to different local teams and supporting various high school teams. Grant gives back to the community himself by coaching his daughter’s softball team. He also serves as the administrator for Moose Lodge #1107 in Rochester.
“Since I’m here we’re able to give a lot more back,” Grant says.
Culligan employees also serve the community through their work. They sell and rent out water softeners, water filters and drinking water systems. The company delivers salt and water across the county, and services many makes and models of softeners, filters and drinking water systems. Often in rural areas water can be considered hard, or full of minerals – particularly iron. By using water softeners and filtration systems water can be cleaned, making it healthier, learn more about water treatments.
“Some people have wells that smell like rotten eggs and are in need of well pump service, and we can clean them up for you,” Grant explains. “We can provide filtered water in bottles or gallons, or under-the-sink filtration units that can give you good, clean water out of the faucet.”
Visit Culligan Water at 129 East 5th Street in Rochester. Call 574-223-2420 or go to culligan.com for more information.
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