WorkForce Central

Taquizas Morelenses, a family-owned catering business led by owner Eva Garcia Martinez, has experienced meaningful growth thanks to a Small Business Equipment Grant from WorkForce Central through the Community Reinvestment Fund. The funding allowed the business to significantly expand its storage and food preparation capacity, more than doubling what they previously had. With these improvements, the team can now take on more catering jobs, prepare food more efficiently, and better meet growing demand.

The grant also enabled the business to hire an additional part-time chef, further strengthening their ability to fulfill orders and serve customers.

Beyond day-to-day operations, the grant has brought the owners closer to achieving a long-term dream: opening a full-time brick-and-mortar restaurant.

“This grant has been transformative for our business,” said owner Eva Garcia Martinez. “With more capacity and the ability to hire more staff, we can take on more jobs and focus on growing our business instead of just getting through each week. It has brought us closer to opening our own restaurant sooner than we ever imagined.”

This investment is helping turn their vision into reality and ensuring that Taquizas Morelenses continues to thrive in our community.

Thank you to the Washington State Department of Commerce for partnering with Local Workforce Boards on the Community Reinvestment Program that supports small businesses and provides opportunities for them to grow.

Nathe Lawver is Secretary Treasurer for the Pierce County Central Labor Council. He brings to the board strong connections to local union organizations and a deep understanding of their work. He offers valuable experience in navigating change for local workers through collective bargaining. Nathe is committed to serving the diverse needs of communities across the greater Puget Sound region.

The Pierce County Workforce Development Board is a business-led council of community leaders representing the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. They volunteer their time and expertise to help build a stronger workforce for Pierce County. Learn more about our board on our website: https://lnkd.in/g9wjn25X