Economic Development Week: Focus on Small Business

Economic development can take many forms, and for Economic Development Week, May 6-10, we’ll be sharing some of the ways in which EDSAC applies economic development practices to the needs of businesses and the community.

Business served: La Catrina Tacos & Tequila

Challenge: During the floods of October 2021 and 2022, La Catrina suffered significant damage, severely impacting their operations and resulting in profit loss.  

Solution: EDASC guided the owners of La Catrina in applying for the Northwest Disaster Grant offered through the Washington State Department of Commerce. This grant, specifically designed to support small businesses affected by the floods, played a crucial role in alleviating some of the financial burdens caused by these natural disasters.

EDASC's role: EDASC actively conducted outreach for the grant and provided tailored technical assistance to businesses like La Catrina. Acknowledging the unique challenges each client faces, EDASC customized its support to meet businesses specific needs, often including on-site visits to their establishments that were conducted entirely in Spanish. During these visits, EDASC’s bilingual business advisor helped them navigate the application process, provided translation services when necessary, and assisted in the preparation and submission of essential documents such as the Unified Business Identifier (UBI) applications. This comprehensive assistance enabled La Catrina to secure a grant that helped them maintain their workforce and recover some of their lost profits.

Economic development perspective: By fostering trust within our small business community and offering customized technical assistance that adapts to their unique situations, EDASC empowers its clients to surmount various business challenges. In the case of La Catrina, this support facilitated the recovery of lost income and helped stabilize their workforce. Two years later, they are not only thriving but also expanding their operations. This growth has significantly boosted job creation, increasing their staff from 7 to 12 employees and creating new opportunities.

Business owner speaks: "I am grateful for the support that EDASC has always provided. Additionally, thanks to the financial assistance we received from the Northwest Disaster Grant, we were able to cover our employees' wages and recover some of our lost profits." (Translated from the original Spanish.)
Nere Caro, Owner 
La Catrina Tacos & Tequila 
Mount Vernon, WA