When Oscar Murcia moved his family from El Salvador to Minnesota a decade ago, he had visions of sharing the sweet breads native to his homeland. The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) of Minneapolis, a Northwest Area Foundation grantee, helped Murcia turn that vision into a business selling Salvadorian pastries. In 2006, he launched the El Guanaco Bakery in downtown St. Paul.Starting the company may have been as much an economic as a sentimental decision. Oscar Murcia ran a bakery in El Salvador, and even met his life partner, Margarita Garcia, there. He knew the industry well; he just didn’t know how to set it up in a new country. LEDC provided the Murcia family with training, access to loans, guidance on licensing. and help drafting a business plan.“It would have been much, much harder and more complicated to start our business without that help. (LEDC) still offers us business support. Whenever we have a question related to running our business or how to deal with the impact of a down economy, they are ready to answer,” said Jennifer Garcia, Oscar Murcia’s daughter, and a manager of the business. Northwest Area Foundation grants support nonprofits that provide the skills training and connections new entrepreneurs need. For example, the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) offers assistance that strengthens the ability of Latino community development corporations, such as LEDC. NALCAB offers grant writing assistance, research, and advocacy in Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The Foundation also made a separate grant of $100,000 directly to LEDC in 2010 to provide training and access to loans for small Latino businesses.“Supporting nonprofits that bolster small businesses is one of the most effective ways of helping people with low incomes build assets and wealth. A new company often opens pathways to prosperity by creating new economic opportunities that can benefit an entire community,” said Kevin Walker, president and CEO of Northwest Area Foundation.El Guanaco Bakery’s robust sales now support a staff of 10 workers, including four members of Oscar Murcia’s family. “We enjoy working together. We are able to help each other learn how to improve our products and business,” added Garcia.No new business comes without challenges, and the stubborn economy of the past few years is one of them. However, the bakery is weathering the downturn with support from LEDC and an eye on better times that might include opening a second store. Overall, it’s been a sweet business that has drawn the Murcia family together and kept it close.
Watch a video about the El Guanaco Bakery.
