VIRGINIA BEACH — Local entrepreneur John Kuchta found a clear way to serve businesses during the pandemic: disinfectant fogging.

A few months after the coronavirus came to town, Kuchta started ViraDecon to help stop the spread of COVID-19. His business partners are also his sister, Julie, and brother-in-law, Alan Faneca.

“We are coming in and making sure if COVID is present, when we’re fogging, we are killing it,” Kuchta said.

He said he came up with the idea after speaking with a friend whose father owns a factory in China.

“He told me that some folks from the Chinese government just came in and started fogging,” Kuchta said. “They ended up ruining a bunch of equipment and it turned out the chemicals they were using were toxic.”

That’s what led Kuchta to search out a nontoxic method. The fluid, a plant-based formula, is made in the U.S.

“We were able to get some battery-powered backpack foggers, which are almost impossible to get due to the current climate,” Kuchta said.

From there, he said it was one step after the other: the company’s name (short for virus decontamination), a website, online marketing, television commercial and brick-and-mortar building in Virginia Beach.

Now in business a little more than 60 days, Kuchta and his team of four stay busy fogging close to 50 restaurants and another 25 businesses throughout Hampton Roads on a weekly basis.

The process, which has a slight charge through the electrostatic fogger, is quick, simple and covers surfaces with a light dew, he said.

“Two minutes later, the formula has killed COVID and several other viruses,” Kuchta said. “The area dries in about 10 minutes and leaves zero residue.”

Pricing ranges from $100 to $1,000 a week depending on the facility’s size.

Tony DiSilvestro, owner of Ynot Italian, said he was able to keep all seven of his restaurants open — and 400 out of 450 employees on payroll — throughout the pandemic with delivery and curbside pickup.

And once allowed to reopen for dining in, Ynot did. Employees sanitized the restaurant every hour on the hour.

When DiSilvestro learned about ViraDecon, he was eager to sign up for the weekly program for all of his locations.

“It’s something that keeps our customers and employees safe,” DiSilvestro said. “I think everybody should consider it.”

ViraDecon plans to expand by licensing its name and model to other business operators, who would cover certain territories.

Last year, Kuchta sold his 15-year-old spray foam and insulation business, EcoFoamUSA, and remains on board as a salesman. Prior to joining forces with Kuchta, the Fanecas were forces in their own rights.

Alan Faneca, a retired professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, said he likes the idea of being able to help get Hampton Roads moving forward and being part of the solution.

“We’re that extra layer of protection; we’re doing what’s above and beyond,” Alan Faneca said. “You can only clean, wipe and wash so many surfaces.”

Julie Faneca said seeing the suffering businesses during quarantine made her want to help them get back to work, too.

The mother of three stays busy running their foundation, Faneca66, which funds research for Sturge-Weber Syndrome, a rare neurological disease their 15-year-old daughter, Anabelle, has.

“We can help people stay open,” Julie Faneca said. “We want to see our kids back in school, see businesses open and things resuming as close to normal as possible.”

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-222-5356, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com