Press Release: Denver's CCWB Drives Diversity and Equity by Linking Local Entrepreneurs with Institutional Buyers

Denver, CO – October 23, 2023 – Denver's Center for Community Wealth Building (CCWB) is leading a pioneering initiative to bridge the racial wealth gap by forging partnerships between local and minority-owned food businesses and  large institutions. 

On Tuesday, October 24, CCWB will host "Eat.Local.Food." at the National Western Center, featuring 11 outstanding diverse, local caterers for a food tasting event that will welcome over 200 institutional buyers from some of the largest institutions in Colorado.
The purpose of Eat.Local.Food. is to introduce diverse, local caterers to potential new customers who are committed to leveraging their everyday purchasing to  foster economic prosperity and inclusivity in the Denver metropolitan area. 
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"Our place-based institutions have a significant economic engine that can be leveraged to strengthen our local businesses. CCWB is connecting local, diverse small businesses to these institutions to build mutually beneficial relationships."

​- Yessica Holguin, executive director at CCWB.

​"Our place-based institutions have a significant economic engine that can be leveraged to strengthen our local businesses. CCWB is connecting local, diverse small businesses to these institutions to build mutually beneficial relationships.," said Yessica Holguin, executive director at CCWB. "By opening doors for local and minority-owned food businesses and helping institutions make purchasing decisions that align with their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we are driving positive change in Denver's economic landscape."

The event is sponsored by the Colorado Health Foundation, National Western Center, CSU Spur, The SSA Group, Zing Credit Union, Kaiser Permanente, and Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO). 
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Eat.Local.Food is a Win-Win-Win (Businesses, Economy, Community)

This initiative is not only about boosting local and minority-owned businesses but also promoting economic prosperity for underserved communities. It allows institutions to make a significant impact in these entrepreneurs’ journey, support economic growth, and help create a more equitable and diverse business landscape.

The Feeding Anchors program and Eat.Local.Food. celebration is a testament to the power of collaboration, and it has already shown promising results. CCWB’s institutional partners are committed to leveraging their everyday business decisions to create  positive change that benefits the entire community. Catering businesses that have been through the program can see  dramatic improvements in their business, such as Taste the Love Cooking, who after many years in business, reached 2023 revenue goals early and has several new catering relationships with institutional businesses. 

For more information about CCWB's Feeding Anchors program and their efforts to support local and minority-owned food businesses, please visit https://www.communitywealthbuilding.org/feedling-anchors.html.


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About Center for Community Wealth Building

Center for Community Wealth Building (CCWB) works to transform the current economic development system into a more inclusive and equitable model that prioritizes democratically-owned businesses, emphasizes local procurement, and ensures social, environmental, and institutional sustainability. 

Founded in 2017 through the collaborative efforts of local residents, worker ownership advocates, and funders, CCWB’s mission is to mobilize, facilitate, and coordinate community wealth building efforts with the practical objectives of widening community education on economic alternatives, enhancing diverse participation, and fostering viable projects for the creation of just and sustainable jobs and democratically-owned businesses in the Denver Metro region. 
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CCWB accomplishes this through three community wealth building strategies:  democratizing ownership; engaging anchor institutions such as hospitals, universities, and municipalities to focus on local procurement, hiring, and investment; and strengthening local businesses, particularly businesses owned by people of color and businesses located in disinvested communities.