Strong, locally-owned businesses support strong communities. The Community Reinvestment Project supports diverse and robust local markets by helping small businesses cover Seattle’s high expenses. The project specifically focused on businesses with high tax burdens.
“The thing with food is, we break barriers. It’s like music — it’s one of those things that doesn’t have a color.” – Sean Sylve
Sean Sylve has always called Seattle home, but the inspiration for his food comes straight from the South.
At Po’Boys & Tings, Sean brings Louisiana’s flavors to the Pacific Northwest. “The men in my family have cooked my whole life. I grew up wanting to be in the kitchen.”
After starting at festivals in 2017, Po’Boys & Tings eventually purchased a food truck to expand their business. It’s all family recipes and tricks I learned from my people down South”
But “the cost of doing business is crazy, and it’s really hard coming up with capital. My food truck alone was $65,000. And then you need to buy the product and pay the taxes and pay employees.”
The Community Reinvestment Project’s Business Capital Support grant helped Po’Boys & Tings weather a recent hard financial season by covering up front costs that kept the business on top of its game.
Thanks to the $25,000 he received, Sean plans to hire his first employee. “This loan gives me the breathing room to pursue more opportunities. At this point, I do everything. This loan will allow me to hire someone to help work the truck while I focus on growing the business.”
