Sacramento, C.A. – On Wednesday June 15, 2005, Assemblywoman Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) honored the work of Casa Chicas (Little House) as the 14th Assembly District’s 2005 Small Business of the Year. The 2005 California Small Business Day was convened by the California Small Business Association, where over 70 legislators from both the State Assembly and Senate recognized the contributions small businesses make to California.

Luis Campos Chicas and his wife, Reina Medrano emigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador, but after 10 years of employment in the food service industry found themselves out of a job. Frustrated with the uncertainty of their future, they decided to use their combined years of experience, dedication to hard work and their limited savings to embark on one the biggest challenges of their lives: small business ownership. Their dream was to establish a company that would manufacture the “best homemade” salsas, chips, guacamoles, and hot sauce. They were determined to get their company off the ground. Today, Casa Chicas sells 100% natural homemade products that are available at stores and restaurants throughout California, including 88 stores in San Francisco alone.

After finding a home for their company in the City of San Pablo, Luis and Reina invested long hours concocting the perfect recipes that have allowed for their continued success. What initially began as a dream for two is now providing employment opportunities to 15 residents from the San Francisco Bay Area. Luis Campos Chicas works to hire people from his community, develop close relationships with them and provide them with opportunities for personal and professional growth within his company. He views his employees as the future leaders of his company and within the community and also assists them in pursuing their own dreams of owning a business.

“I am delighted to honor Luis Campos Chicas and Reina Medrano and proclaim Casa Chicas as the 14th Assembly District’s 2005 Small Business of the Year. I am recognizing them as visionary community leaders and entrepreneurs who inspire those around them to exceed their potential and have a successful and sustainable business,” said Hancock.

On May 25, 2000 the Assembly of the State of California under House Resolution No. 57 recognized the importance of small businesses to the economy of this state declared the final Wednesday in May each year as California Small Business Day.