WESST Client Profiles

Josefina Verduzco is the passionate owner of Casa Fina Mexican Cuisine.  She is focused on bringing authentic flavors to the community through high-quality dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.  Josefina first met with WESST in June 2023 seeking funding for her business. She met with our Lending team and was able to complete a Nano Loan application to purchase a laptop for her business – a small loan with a big impact, helping her streamline and enhance her business operations.

She has since attended the Empower by GoDaddy training series, which enabled her to publish a website and showcase her business online. Through the guidance of her consultant, Josefina also joined the first-ever Spanish-language food business training program at Three Sisters Kitchen in 2024. This opportunity provided her with access to a commercial kitchen for free for a year, covered the cost of her ServSafe certification, and has helped guide her through the licensing application process.

One of the biggest barriers Josefina faced was obtaining her licensing and food permit. She also struggled with limited access to capital, which prevented her from entering a commissary kitchen or opening her own facility. Without the necessary licensing and access to a commercial kitchen, Josefina would not have been able to legally sell her food to her clients.

Josefina’s dedication, talent, and drive have positioned her for continued growth, and she is now taking the next big step by joining the Semilla Program at the South Valley Economic Development Center (SVEDC), where she will further develop her business and production capacity.