Women’s businesses in Northland recognized by Small Business Association

DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – One thing Love Creamery, Hucklebeary, and Mexico Lindo all have in common is they are all women-owned businesses.

The Small Business Association (SBA) recognized the Women’s Business Alliance (WBA) North as the Women’s Business Center of the year Monday.

The Women’s Business Alliance is a subgroup of the Duluth-based Entrepreneur Fund, a nonprofit that advises and makes funding more accessible for small businesses.

The WBA North Center supports the Arrowhead region of Minnesota and Douglas County, Wisconsin.

This year, it received recognition for its dedication to training, educating, and counseling culturally diverse women entrepreneurs like Mexico Lindo owner Lorena Velez.

Velez became the owner of the restaurant in 2020 after already working there.

“It was tough because if you remember 2020 was COVID and we literally got shut down the day I signed my lease here,” Velez said.

The transition may not have been the easiest, but Velez knew her experience could excel her past others’ expectations.

“Being a minority and being a woman, I feel that sometimes people don’t think that you can do it, or you are capable of doing something,” Velez said. “Maybe I can do a little bit more, maybe I can learn. And I definitely have.”

Part of that learning is as a client of the WBA North.

“We have seen probably a good 10-12% growth for customers every year,” Velez said.

This yearly growth is partly why it was selected as the location to celebrate the WBA North’s success, according to Director Sandi Larson.

“We want to highlight just the wonderful things that have been happening in our region for women,” Larson said. “It just so happens that the Women’s Business Center has supported them in their work.”

According to Velez, the support she has received from the WBA North has contributed to her success.

“There is help out there,” Velez said. “Always ask, because you never, you never know. Always ask. I was literally knocking on doors trying to get guidance or get instructions or help on how to run things.”

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