AUSTIN, Texas — Business is often competitive, but it doesn't always need to be.
In September, KVUE introduced you to Siete Family Foods, a Mexican-American food brand headquartered in Austin. Siete is a business seeing a lot of success that is also interested in helping others succeed.
The company's Juntos Fund was created to empower entrepreneurship in Latino communities. This year’s effort focused on supporting Latina-owned food businesses, ranging from food trucks to taquerias to bakeries.
After receiving hundreds of applications nationwide, Siete awarded $200,000 to nine entrepreneurs across the country. Among those were two Austin businesses: a bakery called Comadre Panadería and a restaurant called La Cocina de Consuelo.
"Starting this business or at least moving into this brick-and-mortar and expanding has been a really isolating experience. So to know other people have our backs and believe in us, it's helping me get through the really long 13-hour days," Comadre Panadería owner Mariela Comancho said.
Comadre Panadería is open Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1204 Cedar Ave.
La Cocina de Consuelo is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4516 Burnet Road.
This is the third year of the Juntos Fund. Over the summer, Siete announced a $2 million funding commitment over a 5-year period to support Latino-owned businesses.