Small Business Program
Small Business Training Program
In 2022, BAM started a 6 month business training program for people in the community who would like to start or expand their own small businesses. In the program they learn about marketing, accounting, how to write a business plan, and so much more! In 2022, we celebrated the graduation of the first 37 small business entrepreneurs! 65 people have now graduated from the BAM small business training course.
In the Small Business Training Program, our students have the opportunity to directly apply what they have learned in their classes in the BAM Catalina Bakery located in our business building. This allows students to acquire experience by working with the business’s management, marketing, and accounting as well as learn how a business is established. This program will forge the next generation of entrepreneurs and business people in the community.
BAM business school graduates also participate in monthly expos at the Community Center where they sell items from their businesses.
Small Business Support
Throughout the years, BAM has been able to help many people start or improve their own small businesses in our effort to help as many people become as empowered as possible.
Here are some ways we support businesses through the small business and entrepreneur program:
- 100+ people have received support to start their own small businesses through the business training program, loans, construction for their business, etc.
- Regular visits are made by the business team to families to encourage them and help them to increase profits in their home based businesses.
- Facebook and other promotional support is provided.
- Our team sets up expos at the Community Center for small business entrepreneurs to sell their goods.
- Many new people have small businesses up and running in their homes this year thanks to support from our donors and the BAM business team!
Small Business Examples
Below are just a few of the businesses that we have supported
Christina lives in BAM house #276. She is in a wheelchair and before receiving a home, was unable to leave her house due to limited wheelchair access in her neighborhood. We built her a traditional BAM home plus an additional room and a wheelchair ramp for her to start a small store. She now runs a store and is more connected to her community thanks to regular visits from our team members, who help her get around.
Rosa from BAM house #249 used to sell items and food under a makeshift tarp outside of her house. We built her family a BAM house plus a store that she now proudly runs.
Genoveva lives in house #30. We built her a traditional Build a Miracle home, but added an additional room/storefront/kitchen to the side where she could make and sell tacos. She told us, “I can’t read, but I can cook!” She is now able to sell more tacos to earn money to help feed her family.
Adelina from BAM house #214 took the BAM baking course and now makes and sells empanadas through her business, Empanadas Doña Adis. We built a kitchen and gave her 2 loans to help her expand the business.
In a letter to her sponsors, she wrote, “I thank God for your lives and for giving me the knowledge and wisdom to make these delicious empanadas. My dream is to do this on a bigger scale and sell these empanadas to all of Tijuana, all of Mexico, and why not the whole world!”
Sergio from BAM house #302 sold cotton candy. We built him a BAM home with a store attached and helped him buy items to sell at his store. He has since received and paid off 3 loans to continue growing his business.
Teresa ran a hair cutting business out of her house. We built her a salon along with her BAM house.
Microfinance Loans
At the BAM Community Center, small business owners can apply to receive a loan of $100. If they pay back that loan, then they are able to receive a bigger loan. These investments in small businesses allow the owners to expand their business and succeed.
Meet a few of our loan recipients
Irene
Irene sells new and used clothes at local markets. She took our Small Business Training Program and received a loan to buy more clothes and expand her business.
Laura
Laura from BAM house #142 has a business where she sells tacos and quesadillas. She has received 3 different loans from BAM to buy a griddle to make her food.
Maria
Maria Isabel from BAM house #48 sells tamales. She received a loan from BAM to help buy ingredients.
Right now I am paying back my third loan from the Community Center and it has honestly served me a lot because I have used it to grow my business. I make meals for events – weddings, quinceañeras, baptisms etc. Thanks to God, I am now doing better financially and can help my husband with the expenses of my family. I thank you for having started this project because it has benefited many families in my community and we have been able to grow our businesses.
- Artemisa
Event Caterer, BAM House #288
Shark Tank Program
In 2023 we were excited to initiate the Shark Tank Program, inspired by the popular TV show. During these events, entrepreneurs from the communities of Tijuana seeking financing to expand their small businesses present their business proposals to a panel of investors, or “sharks.” Each of them come looking for $200-$1,500 to expand their businesses. The sharks are BAM sponsors from the US. So far, 26 businesses have benefited from the Shark Tank Program.
Meet a few of our Shark Tank entrepreneurs
Teresa
Teresa runs a grocery store in front of her home and she is on the waiting list for a BAM house. She participated in our Shark Tank Program and received a loan from an investor to buy more inventory and expand her store.
Patricia
Patricia from house #398 runs a piñata business. She received a $900 loan at our Shark Tank event to buy more materials and build a workshop to have a space to make the piñatas. She also took the Small Business Training Program at the BAM Community Center.
Irene
Irene from house #210 sells beauty products at local markets and BAM expos to help contribute to her household income. She received a $1,600 loan which she used to buy more inventory and increase her profit. She has also taken our Small Business Training Program.
Today, thank God, my business is going well and I am grateful that you have chosen to help me build my dream – a dream that was formed by letting go of fear, fear that didn’t allow me to continue growing. Thank you for being in my path and supporting me in this great dream. Thank you for your trust and support for my small business.