For Alicia Villanueva Castañeda, the best tamales are stuffed with love. For many years, though, Villanueva, 53, was stuck in a pattern of long work hours and short money. Since arriving from Mazatlán, México in 2000, she worked multiple, low-wage jobs, but it wasn’t enough. Love and hard work wasn’t enough.
Villanueva, who now lives in Berkeley, had always made tamales for friends and family and one day she decided those tamales could make her dream of a better life come true. At night, she used to cook and make her tamales and in the morning would knock on neighbors’ doors to sell her tamales. She walked through her neighborhood for years and built a good reputation with customers.
“I always had the dream to have my own business and also to share the tradition of tamales with the community,” says Villanueva. “I wanted more people to know about the proper way to make tamales.”
In a moment of courage and inspiration, she decided to quit her jobs and get training to grow her business. She studied at Women’s Initiative in Oakland and in 2010 started training at La Cocina in San Francisco.
Soon after, her business was thriving. She hired six employees to help produce thousands of tamales each week. They also make food deliveries for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At least once a month they also deliver food for events of 700 people.
“I have challenges, it is not easy,” says Villanueva. “But I am living my dream - I am very happy now.”
She now had a real business but needed more help to keep growing. She came to Opportunity Fund, which is California’s largest non-profit lender to small businesses. She received a loan to buy a truck so that she could catch up with increasing demand and start delivering more orders.
“It really helped to grow my business,” says Villanueva. "Love is not enough; you need resources to grow your business.”
“Alicia is a remarkable woman,” says Caitlin McShane of Opportunity Fund. “She took a talent and made a new life for herself and her family. Her tamales are truly outstanding, and her drive to grow her business is unyielding.”
Last year, Opportunity Fund provided 1,420 loans to entrepreneurs, totaling $26 million. Loans range from $2,600 to $100,000.
“It has been such a pleasure to support Alicia as she grew her business from a test kitchen to a full-fledged business,” adds McShane. “We’re in the business of saying ‘yes’ to the dreams of hard-working people like Alicia because we know that a little seed money and support at the right time, with the right people, can make a permanent and lasting change in their lives.”
Villanueva’s experience and words are a blueprint for success and an antidote to excuses.
“If you have a dream and a goal, do not quit if you find challenges and obstacles - those are there to teach you,” she states. “Sometimes things appear to be impossible but there are not impossible things. Find help, ask for help. People are glad to help.
The key is to research and ask questions. This country has plenty of opportunities. Even if you do not have money, what you need is inspiration, work and ganas. I started my business with just a penny, I did not have anything.”