Just show up and be there,” was the first lesson Sade’ Perkins says she learned when she launched Freedmen’s Town Farmers Market in Houston, Texas with the vision of eliminating a food desert in Houston’s oldest African American neighborhood. It rained the night before her grand opening and she didn’t know if she could pull it off. But she persisted, and last year brought an estimated $250,000 in economic activity to her community.
Starting From Scratch
For creating an essential business that supports the health of her community while also helping other small businesses grow, Nav has awarded a $5000 grant to Freedmen’s Town Farmer’s Market in N new zealand whatsapp number data av’s quarterly Small Business Grant Contest.
One of the youngest businesses to win the Nav Small Business Grant, the Freedmen’s Market was started in November 2020. Launching during the pandemic, Perkins used her own funds to start the business, bootstrapping all the way.
The seed for her idea was planted when Perkins’ car broke down and she was unable to get to the grocery store without a long walk or paying for a ride share. Though the area in which she lives and runs her business is close to downtown Houston, for those without reliable transportation, it can be a world apart.
Perkins is now bringing healthy food to her customers, and has noti development can proceed according to a strict schedule ced that the social aspect of her business is just as important as the products it sells. “This area is gentrifying,” she says, “and I see people who want a place to get together.”
One of the major perks of running her own business ha. Gbeen th uk data e opportunity to spend time with her teenage sons. (She and her partner are raising their two 14-year-old sons together.) “I love being able to make my own schedule and run a full business while being a stay at home mom,” Perkins says. “I’m home when my kids get out of school and that’s very rewarding to me. My business has given me the flexibility to still be a mom while servicing a great need in my community.”
What’s Next
Perkins says it’s been a challenge to find and retain quality vendors. She’s had to move locations and is contemplating another move. In the meantime, she plans to use the proceeds from the grant to form an LLC. Get a professional website and cover some of her weekly operational costs such as porta potty rentals.