Comstock's magazine 0520 - May 2020 | Page 67

special promotional section
be distributed among several for things like
outdoor seating, an event, art, murals and
more. The goal of this grant is to help the
downtown become even more beautiful
and walkable for employees, residents and
visitors.”
Breaking entrepreneurial
barriers
Stockton’s diversity is an important part
of the city’s identity — it was called the
“most racially diverse city” in America
earlier this year by U.S. News & World
Report. Several groups in the city focus
on providing opportunities and support to
people of lower income levels who want to
be entrepreneurs.
The nonprofit Stockton Community
Kitchen is one example. “We’re a business
incubator for low-income food entrepre-
neurs,” says founder Rima Barkett. SCK
has a commercial kitchen, certification
opportunities, mentors and workshops,
among other resources, to develop and
incubate food businesses for entrepre-
neurs who are considered low-income by
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development standards for the county.
“We look for wonderful under-resourced
cooks and teach them how to start and
work a successful food-related business,”
Barkett says.
By offering assistance with business
background, permits and licenses, SCK’s
goal is to improve business profit, increase
owners’ household incomes, and enhance
the quality of life for the individual and
community.
“The (San Joaquin) Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce has been supporting us from
day one, providing grants and mentors for
our clients,” says Barkett. “The city Eco-
nomic Development Department has also
been a great supporter, and we’ve received
a ($30,000) grant. This project succeeds
only if the whole city stands by it, and
Stockton is totally supporting us.”
Another organization, Launch Pad, is
a New Orleans-based coworking company
with a location in downtown Stockton that
offers workspace and created the Launch
Pad Foundation, which provides resources
to underrepresented entrepreneurs in the
community via education and mentorship.
“Stockton is a perfect example of the
type of ‘momentum market’ that Launch
Pad aims to support,” says Anne Driscoll,
founder and CEO. “We want to be a major
part of helping grow and strengthen the
local entrepreneurial ecosystem while so-
lidifying Stockton as a place that business-
es can be built and be successful.”
Since joining the community, Launch
Pad has worked with Reinvent South
Stockton Coalition and Main Street Launch,
organizations that are similarly aligned
to support the economic development
of the city. Launch Pad members include
Changeist, a civic-action group, and Stock-
ton Impact Corps, a small-business financ-
ing resource, organizations that support
community and startups in Stockton.
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May 2020 | comstocksmag.com
67