Pueblo entrepreneurs understand the trials and tribulations that come with starting a business, but they also have the drive to realize their passion and dreams.
“I didn't know anything about business,” said Ed Schmal, a local entrepreneur who recently completed the Pueblo Food Project's entrepreneurship program. “Just learning about business was huge. And it gave me the opportunity and connections to connect with other people, not just my classmates, but with marketers, professional chefs, and others.”
“The opportunities that are coming up are probably the best gift this class has given me. People love the idea and they want more.”
Schmal isn't the only one to praise the program, which offers a 16-week, semester-long course for food, beverage and agriculture entrepreneurs: He applied to the program earlier this year while looking for ways to grow his own business, Broken Vale Mushroom Supply.
“I'd come home with a business plan,” Schmal says, “to show to banks, investors, whoever. Just having that document is very valuable. We worked our way through it bit by bit and finally brought it all together. It was a great experience.”
Entrepreneurs praise Fuel Kitchens program
This year's program had 15 participants, with five of them selected as finalists who competed for the award at PFP's annual Snack and Tell event on Tuesday.
During their presentations, each finalist explained their business plan and where their inspiration came from, as well as shared their thoughts on the product gap in Pueblo's market.
Jen Chamberlin, owner and confectioner of Treats by Chamberlin, believes Pueblo is missing an authentic old-fashioned candy shop, but she hopes to open one by the end of 2026.
Eliza Hartsfield of Eliza Jane Cakes said Pueblo needs a custom cake maker who can combine quality and charm.
But bridging those gaps and making it a reality is a monumental endeavor that requires knowledge of both how to run a business and how to do it efficiently, entrepreneurs shared at PFP’s Sun Soil Water Ag Summit earlier this year.
“It was a really great experience,” Chamberlain said of the class. “I'm not a very outspoken person, but this class really helped me to have a conversation about my business instead of just saying, 'Eat my candy.' I was able to actually talk and express what I want to do at Pueblo.”
“It was a great benefit for us to be able to connect with so many great resources.”
Some of the entrepreneurs recently spent time at Fuel Kitchens, Pueblo's new distribution kitchen operated by Fuel & Iron, and Chamberlin said they “made a big push” to get in there right away to take advantage of the space and equipment.
“It's fantastic,” Chamberlain says. “First of all, I love that it's completely away from home, but has all the amenities you could ever need and more.”
Fuel & Iron Food Hall co-founder Nathan Stearns said he sees the facility as a “bridge” between people making products at home and eventually opening brick-and-mortar stores.
Schmal thinks so too. He and Jolene “JoJo” Collins, Fuel Kitchens' director of operations and instruction, have discussed the possibility of hosting mushroom classes there. Schmal would eventually like to open his own store in Pueblo, but he's going to focus on his products first and take small steps, like selling at a farmers' market this summer.
“I just want to keep growing them and selling them,” Schmal says, “Of course I want to make money, but I also believe in mushrooms and the health benefits they provide.”
Spanish speakers join the program
As always, Pueblo Food Project had translators on hand for Spanish-speaking attendees at Tuesday's event, but went a step further by having program participant Eva Leon, founder of Cocina Mexicana 017, give a presentation in Spanish.
Leon is the first Spanish-speaking member of the program's group of entrepreneurs, according to Collins, who thanked PFP's translators for translating throughout the semester so the program could be delivered to Pueblo's Spanish-speaking community.
“Fuel Kitchens and Pueblo Food Project understand the importance of language justice, which is a key component of true equity and access,” Deya Gonzalez, who runs Language Partners and served as a translator for the event, said in English and Spanish before the presentation.
“I think the reason our program is so effective is because it's community focused and builds a network of people who are genuinely interested in helping each other, whether that be by sharing resources, time or emotional support,” Collins said in a text message.
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Contact Chieftain reporter Jose Perez at JHPerez@gannett.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @josuepwrites. To support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain. subscribe.
