Austin’s own Alicia’s
Tacoriendo adds something extra to their food; amor!
Max Varela, owner of Alicia’s
Tacoriendo, cooks all of the meals with passion and love for great tasting
food. Alicia who is famous in Mustang Ridge for tamales is his mother, so he
used her recipes. His local, family-owned
business specializes in authentic Mexican food from Monterrey, Mexico at an
affordable price. He offers catering for any type of occasion or venue, along
with, readily available tamales made to your delight.
“I have worked alongside
my mother at many food vending festivals and events. My mother has over 30
years in the food serving industry and owned her own food truck. I want to
provide opportunities for my family as we continue to grow,” he said. The community
that visits his food truck receives the love he puts in every dish.
Although he had experience before, it was not easy to establish and promote his business. To solve the problem, Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI), helped him refine his business plan and provided him ideas on marketing. More importantly, they continue to offer him business advice and counseling. By completing the EGBI small business workshop series, he was eligible for a free year’s membership to the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce(GAHCC). Being part of the GAHCC will give his business more exposure to potential customers. You can visit his food truck which is located in 8503 Hillmoore Drive, Austin, Texas 78719. For more information about Alica’s Tacoriendo visit www.facebook.com/aliciastacoriendo.
The spring is a good time
to learn how to cook. I recommend you visit Tye Cooks Austin website which has
plenty of recipes.
Tye Lewis, an owner of
Tye Cooks Austin loves teaching people to cook a healthy gourmet meal using
staples found in most pantries. Her business combines her training as a teacher
and her passion for food. She offers highly personalized one-on-one and small
group cooking classes. Additionally, she offers on-site team building cooking
lessons for organizations in the Austin area. She is happy when her clients
realize that they can cook healthy flavorful entrees in their own kitchen.
However, it has not always been easy starting a business. She faced obstacles like developing a clear mission, finding her “client”, and startup funding. She got help from Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI). EGBI helped her learn the basics of how to set up a business from scratch. “Also, the value of insurance, pricing, refining my elevator pitch, and seeing the full value of the service I provide to my clients.” Tye offered. “Now my goals are to expand into more markets here in the Austin metro area as well another Texas city. I am working on publishing a multi-cultural cuisine cookbook geared for those who have food allergies or intolerance.” You can find her own recipes on her website, which consist of ingredients found in most people’s pantries, but also one ingredient that can easily be found in a local grocery store but is versatile. Anyone can try one of the free recipes and building confidence in your own cooking skills.
For more information about the Tye Cooks Austin, visit www.tyecooksaustin.com.
El número de empresas de propiedad negra en Austin está creciendo. Febrero es el Mes de la Historia Negra, una celebración anual de los logros de los afroamericanos y un momento para reconocer el papel central de los negros en la historia de los Estados Unidos. Para celebrar el Mes de la Historia Negra, Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) reconoce a dos clientes que operan un mercado de comida africano y una organización sin fines de lucro que destaca la historia negra. Uno lleva la comida etíope a la comunidad de Austin, mientras que el otro ayuda a los jóvenes a moldear su identidad y aprender de su pasado.
Sitotaw Degefaw, uno de los propietarios de Selam International Mart & Café en North Lamar, vende alimentos y especias importados de Etiopía y África Oriental en su tienda de comestibles. Los visitantes pueden explorar la cultura de África oriental mientras disfrutan de la comida tradicional etíope sin la necesidad de viajar a Etiopía. Selam International Mart & Café es un lugar donde la comunidad de África Oriental en Austin puede venir y disfrutar de su cultura nativa de Etiopía, así como un lugar para que los no africanos prueben algo nuevo en un ambiente muy amigable. La parte favorita de Degefaw de ser dueño de su negocio es conocer gente nueva y tener un lugar donde su comunidad pueda reunirse.
Comenzó su negocio con sólo una idea. Llegó a EGBI para obtener el apoyo que necesitaba para su pequeña empresa, con la idea de comenzar un matadero para un tipo particular de carne de res importante para la comida etíope. EGBI lo ayudó a comprender las regulaciones gubernamentales sobre el procesamiento de carne y, a medida que su idea se definía mejor, tuvo la oportunidad de comprar una tienda de comestibles que tenía espacio para agregar una carnicería para su carne especial.
Trabajó con Joni Foster, Director de Programas de EGBI, a través de sesiones de entrenamiento uno a uno. “Ella me conectó con el proveedor que sacrifica la carne especial según la costumbre de mi país”, ofreció Degefaw. “Trabajó conmigo para hacer realidad mi sueño”. Sigue visitando a Joni una vez al mes para hablar sobre este negocio. Para obtener más información sobre Selam International Mart & Café, visite selamcafe.com
The Living History Foundation se fundó en febrero de 2018 cuando el primer grupo de personas se sentó alrededor de la mesa y ordenó la reunión. El año pasado, la organización recibió su estado 501 (C) (3) del IRS y presentó tres programas de historia de vida en el centro de Texas. Edgar B. Garza, presidente de la Junta de Living History Foundation, dijo: “La misión de la Fundación es inspirar a los niños y jóvenes de corazón a conocer las contribuciones de la gente de color en la construcción de esta gran nación del mundo. Tiempo antes de los primeros europeos hasta nuestros días.
“La historia es una parte importante de nuestra vida personal”, continuó Garza. “Es la clave para entender quiénes somos como humanos. Los jóvenes finalmente desarrollarán su propia perspectiva sobre la vida humana y la sociedad. Una que se basa en historias sobre personas comunes, como los jóvenes que están en el programa. También aprenderán de la gente común lecciones de coraje, liderazgo y protesta constructiva.
Es la primera vez que muchos de los miembros de la junta directiva forman parte de una organización sin fines de lucro, pero EGBI se reúne con los directores un par de veces al mes para ayudarles a poner todo junto. La junta se reunió en diciembre de 2018 para hacer planes para 2019, y Joni Foster, Directora de Programas de EGBI, facilitó la conversación. Manténgase atento a uno de los 12 programas de historia viva que la organización ofrecerá en los próximos meses. Para obtener más información sobre The Living History Foundation, visite facebook.com/livinghistoryfoundation.
Board members of Living History FoundationSalem Mart
The number of black-owned businesses in Austin is growing. February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of blacks in U.S. history. To celebrate Black History Month, Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) recognizes two clients that operate an African food mart and a nonprofit that highlights black history. One brings Ethiopian food to the Austin community, while the other helps youth shape their identity and learn from their past.
Sitotaw Degefaw, one of the owners of Selam International Mart & Café on North Lamar, sells imported Ethiopian and East African foods and spices in his grocery store. Visitors can explore East African culture while enjoying traditional Ethiopian food without the need to travel to Ethiopia. Selam International Mart & Café is a place where the East African community in Austin can come and enjoy their native Ethiopian culture, as well as a place for non-Africans to try something new in a very friendly environment. Degefaw’s favorite part of owning his business is meeting new people and having a place where his community can gather.
He started his business with just an idea. He came to EGBI to get the support he needed for his small business, with the idea of starting a slaughterhouse for a particular type of beef important to Ethiopian food. EGBI helped him to understand the governmental regulations around processing meat, and as his idea got better defined, he had the opportunity to purchase a grocery mart that had space to add a butcher shop for his specialty meat.
He worked with Joni
Foster, EGBI’s Program Director, through one-on-one coaching sessions. “She
connected me to the supplier that slaughters the specialty meat according to my
country’s custom,” Degefaw offered. “She worked with me side by side to make my
dream happen.” He continues to visit with Joni once a month to talk about this
business. For more information about Selam International Mart & Café, visit
selamcafe.com
The Living History
Foundation was founded in February 2018 when the first group of people sat
around the table and called the meeting to order. In the past year, the
organization has received its 501(C)(3) status from the IRS and presented three
living history programs in Central Texas. Edgar B. Garza, the Board President
of Living History Foundation, said, “The mission of the Foundation is to
inspire children and the young-at-heart to learn about the contributions people
of color made in the building of this great nation from the time before the
first Europeans to the present day.
“History is an important
part of our personal lives,” Garza continued. “It is the key to understanding
who we are as humans. The youth will ultimately develop their own perspective
on human life and society. One that is based on stories about ordinary people
just like the youth that are in the program. They will also learn from ordinary
people lessons in courage, leadership, and constructive protest.
It is the first time for many of the board members to be a part of a non-profit organization, but EGBI meets with directors a couple of times per month to help them put everything together. The board gathered in December 2018 to make plans for 2019, and Joni Foster, Program Director at EGBI facilitated the conversation. Keep a lookout for one of the 12 living history programs the organization will offer in the months to come. For more information about the Living History Foundation, visit facebook.com/livinghistoryfoundation.
Board members of Living History FoundationSalem Mart
Jason McClain and his wife, Silvia Solorzano, had a vision four years ago to start McClain Metal Works. From a modest beginning in 2014 working from their garage with one client, Jason and Silvia now have a shop, a team of six employees working full time, and lots of ideas to grow in 2019.
Over the years, Jason grew a reputation in Austin
as “The Metal Wizard”. Jason learned on old school 1940 machinery and his talent
earned him recognition which in turn encouraged him to open his own business.
Jason and Silvia manage the business together
from fabrication to office paperwork. “We are constantly learning from our
projects. Every project is unique. Some are designed as a piece of art or as
décor, some are designed for industrial or commercial purposes. Sometimes both
architectural and art are integrated to meet functionality and décor at the
same time. We never get bored with this kind of challenges. McClain Metal
Works’ goals for the business 2019 is to expand their services.”, explains
Silvia.
Currently, they have a nice variety of clients,
from interior designers, architects, construction companies, to DIY homeowners.
The McCain’s story is one with lots of sweat and hard work combined with training, coaching and support from Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) . Silvia took classes at EGBI years before the two of them met. “The people at EGBI are there when we needed them the most, not only with the classes but during the process of the business growing, and to help us to find the solutions that we need.”
“We are so happy at how fast we have expanded
our capabilities. Today, we are a team
of six people working full time in our shop. The more we grow and expand, the
more help we need on operating the business.
We always go to Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) when we need
help, they provide us the coaching we need.”
For more details on McClain Metal Works, visit mcclainmetalworks.com.
Austin, TX: After working at S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair for more than 20 years, on January 2, 2018, Gabriel Orozco bought the business from the retiring owners, Eileen and Larry Smith.
Larry and Eileen are happy to see Gabriel take over the business that has been serving the Austin area since 1986. “We wish nothing but the best for Gabe,” said former owner, Larry Smith. The Smiths will be helping Orozco through a three-month transition period, to prevent any disruption in service as Orozco makes the transition from technician to owner.
For the last 6 months, Gabriel Orozco has consulted with Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI), an organization that provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners. He completed EGBI’s business workshop series and will continue to be coached by EGBI staff to sharpen his business skills through the changeover. EGBI helped Orozco qualify for a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan from PeopleFund for the purchase, and connected Orozco to the University of Texas School of Law Entrepreneurship & Community Development Clinic for legal support.
Orozco looks forward to providing the same excellent service S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair clients are accustomed to. “As a longtime customer, we are excited to hear Gabriel will be taking over the business and preserving the excellent customer service he has always provided us,” said Roy Reyes at Double R Sport Imports. About S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair: S.T.A.R. Windshield Repair has served the Austin area as the rock damage repair specialist since 1986. Their mobile service has a lifetime money-back guarantee and provides insurance deductible waivers. For more information, contact the new owner, Gabe Orozco, at 512-576-5154.
