Celebrating Women in Small Business

Lindsay Boulter

Celebrating Women in Small Business October is National Women’s Small Business Month. We’re celebrating women-owned businesses everywhere, as well as the outstanding progress female entrepreneurs have made over the years! Did you know? -In 1972, women only owned 4.6% of all businesses in the United States. As of 2019, women owned 42% of all businesses -Women-owned businesses grew 21% from 2014 to 2019, and businesses owned by women of color grew at double that rate. Numbers for black women entrepreneurs grew the fastest, with an increase of 50%. In fact, as of 2019, women of color accounted for 50% of all women who owned businesses. -There are nearly 13 million… Read More

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Saffron Valley: Small Business Spotlight

Danny Mangum

Saffron Valley Special The newest addition in the Saffron Valley family is part restaurant, part market and part chai house. With small business financing from Mountain West, Saffron Valley was able to hire 12 more employees at their new Sugarhouse/Liberty Wells location in Salt Lake City. The new 5000 square foot location also includes a culinary school, making it a one stop shop for anyone who wants to explore Indian food. The tour de force behind Saffron Valley is Lavanya Mahate. Born and raised in Southern India, Mahate watched her mom, with some help from Kanthama (their kitchen help) cook for her large extended family, and her joy for all things… Read More

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Western Nut Company: MWSBF Borrower Spotlight

Danny Mangum

April 1966, Wellington McDonald and Helen Bean founded the Western Nut Company with a business model that called for acquiring the highest quality of raw nuts in the industry, and then roasting them to perfection. Ownership changed hands in 1983, and the company has remained family-owned ever since. Throughout Western Nut’s 50-plus year history, the hallmarks of quality and freshness remain tenants of the company’s success to this day. With an SBA504 Loan, Loren Mercer and his business partners —his brothers Lloyd Mercer and Lee Mercer—purchased the existing Western Nut factory store property after Loren had spent 10 years working as an executive for Western Nut. In addition to the factory… Read More

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