Reimagining Main Street

New businesses started in rural areas in 2022

Steri-Tech Medical Innovations LLC, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, was founded in 2019 by Jorge Rodriguez, CEO, with the purpose of providing solutions through innovative, unique and technologically advanced medical products. Steri-Tech uses its comprehensive expertise within the medical commodities field in the provision of healthcare settings including surgical, urological, or wound care. Jorge initially visited the Northeast Regional Office for assistance in producing an effective business plan for a business loan. The advisor assisted Jorge and he was approved for a loan and later received a 5-year government contract.

With help from the Southeast Regional Office, the Cape Cod Culinary Incubator (CCCI) opened in Hyannis in May 2022. The 1500 sq. ft. kitchen was created with the vision of providing a place where food entrepreneurs could produce food products for sale. It promotes culinary entrepreneurship, supports sustainable, small food businesses by providing access to a shared-use kitchen, education, networking and marketing. The Massachusetts SBDC has coached the CCCI since 2016, developing a relationship with many board members while assisting with the growth and prosperity of the commercial kitchen in the areas of business principals, marketing and human resources.

The Massachusetts Export Center has provided global business development support to Protectowire, which exports to over 100 countries, including Russia. In early 2022, the U.S. tightened sanctions and export controls against Russia. Realizing that there would be scrutiny of transactions involving Russia, Protectowire engaged the Export Center to conduct a risk assessment and review of Protectowire's export compliance protocols, including export control classification, screening, end-use/user due diligence, distributor awareness, and more. The Export Center's support enabled Protectowire to provide equipment for a major project in Russia and established an infrastructure to support future exports while ensuring compliance integrity.

Denzel “DJ” Williams is a Wesleyan University student and successful college football player. During the pandemic, while his classes went virtual and football games were on hold, DJ decided to start his own business. With the help of the Western Regional Office, Neighborhood Grocery convenience store and the commercial building that housed it was acquired by DJ and his father, Treslan. DJ & T Investments emerged as a proud, black-owned business in Springfield. DJ credits his father, family and community for encouraging him to climb higher. The advice and guidance that DJ received from the Massachusetts SBDC provided a solid financial and strategic position. He expects to apply all of the essential concepts that he's learned to his future investments.

Ascend Elements' Cofounder/CTO Eric Gratz, as a postdoctoral fellow, came to the Massachusetts SBDC for help with SBIR funding in 2015 to launch a venture to commercialize his breakthrough battery technology. Multiple meetings and proposal preparation helped the company secure STTR funds by the end of 2015. The Massachusetts SBDC reviewed numerous proposals and venture documents, assisted with multiple Phase I and Phase II SBIR/STTR funding, and equity investment totaling more than $90 million. The relationship continues to this day. The company was recently awarded Department of Energy grants totaling $480 million to open production facilities in Georgia and Kentucky. Part of this funding was included in President Biden's recent battery initiative announcement.

While others leaned away from risk and uncertainty, the sister/brother team of Colleen and Sean Taylor moved towards the opportunity they saw in the pandemic. They purchased a vacant property in North Adams with Sean's wife Malinda Hayden-Taylor and transformed it into the Craft Food Barn, a take-out destination including full breakfasts, lunches and dinners. They did this while managing the fits and starts of two other restaurants and complying with COVID constrictions.The Taylors have been active Berkshire Regional Office clients since June 2008. Over the years, they received assistance to maintain their first restaurant, Freight Yard Pub, through trying times including working through the Great Recession, and of course, the pandemic.

Caduceus Medical Logistics, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), offers life-saving courier services across the nation. The East Longmeadow-based business moves fast and reliably, managing health system needs. Specializing in the safe, legal, and timely transport of donor organs, supplies, medical records/instruments and vaccines. Every delivery is critical in its own way and tied to patient care. Caduceus is determined to revolutionize health care logistics by building a company that cares for its colleagues. Caduceus praises the Western Regional Office for its survival, ability to procure capital funding, and holding the candle in the dark days of the pandemic.

Sendy Vaughn Suazo is owner of Comida Garifuna, an importer of food items unique to the Garifuna region of Honduras. Before engaging with the Export Center, Sendy was not familiar with the import process and experienced significant Customs delays in importing shipments of food items from Honduras. The Export Center educated Sendy on the import process, connected her with customs brokers, and identified FDA import and labeling requirements. Sendy has since become certified under the FDA Foreign Supplier Verification Program, modified her labeling, and established a relationship with a broker experienced with importing food items. She has been able to grow her business and bring in more shipments for local Latin American specialty stores.

Tanuj Neupane was born in Bhutan, but is ethnically Nepalese. He said that he would not have had the means to open a restaurant in Nepal, where he lived as a refugee for 18 years, but his story was different once he immigrated to the United States. Momo Palace offers Nepalese momos (bite-size dumplings) that are fried, steamed, dipped in a curry, or served with soup. The Central Regional Office assisted with financial forecasting required for underwriting. An advisor helped Tanuj understand the financial ratios of his food business, especially with regard to cost of goods sold. With the forecast adjusted to industry standards, he was approved for a loan and recently opened a second location offering a larger variety of Nepalese dishes.