Mary Forte is an African American woman who wanted to make a difference in her community. She opened a franchised coffee house, It’s A Grind, in a part of downtown Oakland that is being revitalized and worked with the Oakland Business Development Center to secure two loans. She also receives tax credits because the business is located in the Oakland Enterprise Zone and because 75 percent of her employees live in that zone. After 30 years of working in corporate America, Forte is now living her dream of having her own business and, at the same time, giving back to her community.
Nellie Salinas, an Hispanic woman who earned a degree in business but could not find a job, took an administrative position at Molly Maids, a franchised residential cleaning business. She moved up the ranks, and six years later is the co-owner of a $1.7 million business and ready to either buy out the founding partner or open up her own Molly Maids franchise.
No comments yet.