PCC Community Markets Announces 2021 Diverse Entrepreneur Grant Recipients
2021 News
Through partnership with Ventures, the co-op provides $8K of free capital to underrepresented small business owners
(SEATTLE, December 9, 2021) – PCC Community Markets (PCC), one of Seattle’s original grocers and the largest community-owned food market in the U.S. today announced the recipients of its annual Diverse Entrepreneur Grant program that provides free capital to underrepresented small businesses in partnership with Seattle-based Ventures, a nonprofit working to empower local entrepreneurs. The 2021 recipients receiving grants totaling $8,000, are:
- Chawntee Duncan, owner of Chawntee’s Market, focused on herbal and natural supplements.
- Mahogany Williams, owner of The Pickled Chef, a small-batch northwest BIPOC pickling company.
- Keaomee Horne, owner of Lannie, a “free-from” nail polish and remover producer.
- Angelo Jimenez, owner of VegBur, Inc. that produces plant-based mozzarella cheese.
- Elena Nebreda, owner of Kisses From, producing USDA Organic lip balms.
“We are continually looking for ways to help break down barriers facing underrepresented entrepreneurs to help them achieve long-term financial stability and enrich their communities through small business ownership,” said Beto Yarce, Ventures’ Executive Director. “Our partnership with PCC is critical in providing real-world business experience that helps our entrepreneurs scale their business from concept to product on store shelves.”
PCC introduced the Diverse Entrepreneur Grant program in 2020 to support Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), female and LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs. This year’s recipients will use the grants to support a range of business needs including Research & Development, permits and inventory. The grants are an extension of the Scaling for Success program held by Ventures and PCC each year. Scaling for Success courses include members of PCC’s merchandising team and focus on all aspects of developing a wholesale business from creating business plans with a focus on wholesaling and inventory management to efficient communication between business owners and potential customers.
“Working with Ventures helps us support members of our community who often don’t have access to traditional business development services or funding,” said Brenna Davis, PCC’s VP of Social and Environmental Responsibility. “Through training in the Scaling for Success program, funding with our grants and mentorship with our merchandising team, we are creating economic opportunity for diverse small businesses, while providing shoppers with the local, high quality products they love.”
PCC shoppers can find the following products from Ventures entrepreneurs on co-op shelves: JT’s Original Louisiana Bar-B-Que Sauce, brittles from Lanier’s Fine Candies, Capuli Club teas and in our Health and Body Care section, skin and self-care products from Deschampsia and OOliva.
About PCC Community Markets
Founded in Seattle in 1953, PCC Community Markets (PCC) is a certified organic retailer and the nation’s largest community-owned food market with 100,000 members and counting. With an unmatched enthusiasm for making food from scratch, PCC is a haven for those who share a dedication to fresh, organic, seasonal food that is sustainably sourced from over 800 local producers, farmers, ranchers and fishers.
The co-op’s mission is to ensure that good food nourishes the communities it serves, while cultivating vibrant, local, organic food systems. With an active membership of more than 95,000 households, PCC operates 15 stores in the Puget Sound area, including the cities of Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Edmonds, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond and Seattle. Seattle stores are in the neighborhoods of Ballard, Central District, Columbia City, Fremont, Green Lake, View Ridge and West Seattle. The co-op also plans to open new stores in Downtown Seattle and Madison Valley and relocate its Kirkland location.
In 2020, PCC gave more than 60% of pretax earnings to members and the communities it serves. This includes the co-op’s first-ever member dividend and support of nonprofits around the Puget Sound area such as Ventures, Washington Farmland Trust and FareStart.