Rio Nuevo Impact Grants Boosts Tucson Food Entrepreneurs

In May, Rio Nuevo and Groundswell Capital awarded 33 Tucson businesses with grants ranging from $1,500 to $25,000. The new Impact Grant pilot program, launched in January, aimed to help downtown entrepreneurs grow and thrive. In total, it delivered $250,000 in direct support.

Food Businesses Thrive with Support

Several local food businesses received critical funding. Each owner emphasized the real, immediate benefits.

“The Rio Nuevo Grant has been a game-changer for Desert Biscuit Company,” said Jacob Glinski, founder of Desert Biscuit Company. “It provided the critical support needed to build out our food truck and launch operations right here in Tucson. As a startup, access to capital is one of the biggest hurdles and this grant helped us overcome that and stay focused on our mission: serving scratch-made Southwestern breakfast with local ingredients while working towards creating jobs and culinary pride in the heart of our city.”

“The grant from Rio Nuevo and Groundswell Capital has provided a significant boost to Berry Greens,” said Andres Marmion from Berry Greens Juice Bar. “We’ve been able to invest in new equipment that will help us expand our menu and serve our customers more efficiently. This support is invaluable for small businesses like ours.”

“It means a lot to have others who believe in our vision like we do,” said Cornelius Poston, owner of CP’s Wings. “This boost will help with a couple key purchases and keep us moving toward our goals.”

“It has allowed us to enhance our tea house and create a more inviting space for the community to enjoy,” said Shane Barela, owner of Scented Leaf Tea House. “This grant has truly made a difference in our ability to grow and thrive.”

Strategic Investment in Local Growth

Rio Nuevo’s small business support aligns with their long-term plan to keep downtown vibrant and inclusive.

“As part of our new Master Plan, we’ve prioritized supporting the small, local businesses and startups that bring the Rio Nuevo District to life,” said Shay Jimenez, Rio Nuevo Board Member. “This pilot grant program is just the beginning.”

“We were thrilled when Rio Nuevo approached us about this pilot program,” said Diana Weisbrod, small business lender at Groundswell Capital. “It’s rare to see local small business grants — especially for Tucson startups — and we jumped at the chance to support them.”

Outreach efforts included bilingual info sessions, postcards to every registered business, and hand-delivered flyers. A diverse community panel reviewed the nearly 300 applications.

For more information, visit rionuevo.org or groundswellcapital.org.