Cooking Up New Business Opportunities

November 13, 2026

Business: Las Delicias de Isa

Credit Union Partner: Canopy Credit Union

For Spokane entrepreneurs Isabel and Maria Varela, growing a small business meant more than serving great food. It meant finding the financial resources to turn a long-held dream into reality. Through the Washington Credit Building Pilot Program (CBPP) and the Small Business Resiliency Loan (SBRL) program, Varela and her business, Las Delicias de Isa LLC, found the support needed to expand their reach and take the next step toward opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

Las Delicias de Isa, which offers authentic homemade Mexican cuisine, has been serving the Spokane community for four years, steadily building its presence in the community by catering for events, celebrations, local markets, and festivals.

But expanding the business presented a significant challenge: access to financing.

They had pursued numerous loans and grants to support the business, only to face repeated rejections. Traditional financing proved difficult to secure, even as they worked to grow the catering operation and pursued plans for a restaurant.

“I tried for a lot of different loans and grants, but this program was the first one to approve me,” Maria Varela said.

Through Canopy Credit Union, they learned about the SBRL program, which connects small businesses with credit-building loan opportunities and grant support. Canopy staff referred them to Latinos en Spokane, a Small Business Resiliency Network partner that helped guide her through the application process.

The experience was a welcome change from previous attempts to secure funding.

“It was really, really smooth,” Maria said of working with the program’s community partner. “They made everything really easy for us.”

 

Funding That Fueled Growth

The initial loan gave Las Delicias de Isa the resources to make important investments in its catering business. Varela used the funding to purchase a truck, trailer, branded canopy, and essential equipment — upgrades that allowed the business to serve more events and increase revenue.

“We was able to do more events because we was able to fit everything in the trailer,” Maria said. “And we started doing a lot more events than the year before.”

After successfully repaying the loan, they received grant support through the program to help fund the next phase of the business: a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

The grant provided a valuable financial foundation as their team worked to build out their new location in Spokane.

The timing was especially meaningful.

“I think it was an amazing opportunity in many different ways,” Maria said. “They got there at the right time, when we really needed it. It was amazing.”

 

A Restaurant With Community at Its Heart

Their vision for Las Delicias de Isa extends well beyond opening the doors of a new restaurant. They plans to continue catering and participating in local food markets and festivals, maintaining the business’s connection to the Spokane community as it grows.

The restaurant also represents an opportunity to create jobs. They hope to build a team of up to 12 employees within the next two years, creating additional opportunities for people in the area.

Supporting local businesses is another central part of their plan. From restaurant tables crafted by a Spokane-area shop to flooring installed by local workers, they are intentional about keeping business investments within the community. They are also exploring ways to source vegetables and other ingredients from local vendors.

Sustainability will play an important role in the restaurant’s operations, as well. They hope to establish a zero-waste approach, finding ways to donate unsold food to shelters or local organizations rather than throwing it away.

“We’re trying to find a place to donate whatever doesn’t sell at the end of the day — a shelter or another place where we can donate whatever is not reusable for the next day,” Maria said.

These plans reflect a business focused not only on growth, but also on creating a positive impact in the community it serves.

 

Building Confidence in What’s Possible

For the Varelas, participation in CBPP has helped strengthen their confidence in accessing financial services and pursuing future business opportunities. They continue to bank with Canopy Credit Union and describes their experience with the program and its partners as overwhelmingly positive.

“I’m a believer that it’s real,” Maria said. “A lot of people that I talk about it with say, ‘No, that’s not real.’ It is real! I want people to believe that it’s there. It’s real.”

With a successful loan repayment behind them, grant support helping advance restaurant plans, and a vision rooted in local investment, job creation, and community connection, the Varelas are building toward an exciting new chapter for Las Delicias de Isa.

Posted in All Articles, Community Impact.