Rising Tide Community Loan Fund, a subsidiary of Community Action Lehigh Valley, is dedicated to supporting local start-up small businesses by providing affordable business loans tailored to their unique needs. Many small business owners face challenges securing credit from traditional banks, often being labeled as high-risk. Yet, small businesses are the heart of our communities—they bring fresh ideas, foster culture, and make our neighborhoods vibrant.
Rising Tide's mission is to empower these businesses to achieve economic success, giving local entrepreneurs a better chance to thrive. In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Rising Tide provided over $625,000 in funding, bringing its total disbursements to date to more than $12.75 million in support of small businesses throughout the Lehigh Valley and beyond.
Rising Tide Community Loan Fund Helps Toy Entrepreneur Launch Her Thriving Business: The Story of Goblies
Founder/Creator: Briana Gardell
When Briana Gardell, founder of Mezzimatic LLC and creator of Goblies, first came up with the concept for her throwable paintballs, it was a fun idea sparked by a graduate school assignment. "I was in the technical entrepreneurship master’s program, and they gave a bunch of homework assignments to spark creativity. One of those was to take a manufacturing technique and do something with it. So, I used the technique to make balloons," Briana explained. What started as a simple creative exercise evolved into Goblies—squishy, throwable paintballs made from a membrane of seaweed extract and filled with a colorful, easy-to-wash goo.
Bringing Goblies from concept to market was no easy feat. Briana went through 26 prototypes, testing different ingredients and materials in her home kitchen until she finally landed on a formula that worked. She started out by assembling DIY science kits that allowed customers to make their own paintballs. "I started selling the kits locally, launched a Kickstarter, and sold $9,000 worth of products. It seemed like a lot of money at the time,” Briana shared. However, as demand for her product grew, she quickly realized she needed more resources to scale her business.
That’s where Rising Tide came into play. "When I started to have interest from large retailers, I needed to get ready for all these orders and interests. Then I was referred to Rising Tide by my coworking space," Briana said. "I applied. It was a very involved process, but it was a perfect spot in time and in my business to get that $15,000 loan and use it."
"It’s incredibly hard to get funding when you're such a small business," Briana explained. "Even if you have millions of dollars worth of sales on the table, it doesn't give you enough credibility to get a loan from a traditional bank or even get a line of credit. I was 24 years old at that point - who was giving a 24-year-old with no assets a loan?”
The $15,000 loan not only provided much-needed capital, but also gave Briana the credibility she needed when working with major retailers. "The year after I received the loan, I was in Michaels stores. Rising Tide understood where my business was, but also saw where it could be.”
Briana’s business has since grown significantly. Goblies is now available through major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Michaels, and Briana runs her company full-time, working alongside her sister, who has been part of the business for six years, plus one other employee. Reflecting on the journey, Briana highlighted the importance of community-based support for small businesses. "I think they're really unbelievable. People don't really know what goes into the initial stages of a business. If there aren’t organizations like Rising Tide, people without family money or assets would have a much harder time getting started. It allows people to take that extra step forward in a way that's supported by the community.”
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Briana has one key piece of advice: "Have your business idea, then ask yourself how you can start within 24 hours. Then go through that scenario and ask yourself how you can start this business in a week, how you can start in a month. Going through that exercise helps people eliminate tons of barriers. Once you get over that starting line, you gotta keep running the race."
Thanks to her determination and the support from Rising Tide, Briana was able to turn her creative idea into a thriving independent business. Goblies brings joy to countless families and children and is also a shining example of how community-driven programs can help local entrepreneurs achieve their dreams.
Orizaba: Blending Costa Rican-Mexican Flavors and Rising to Success in Bethlehem
Owners/Operators: Saray Paniagua and Jorge Peña
Nestled in the heart of Bethlehem, PA, Orizaba is a vibrant Costa Rican-Mexican fusion restaurant that has become a local favorite. Owned and operated by Saray Paniagua and her husband, Jorge Peña, Orizaba encompasses the power of passion, dedication, and community support. Thanks to the assistance from Rising Tide Community Loan Fund, what began as a dream for two experienced chefs is now a thriving business serving fresh, flavorful dishes every day.
Orizaba opened its doors in January 2020, just weeks before the world faced unprecedented challenges with the onset of the pandemic. The restaurant is the result of a shared dream between two culinary experts—a Costa Rican wife, Saray, and her Mexican husband, Jorge—both of whom bring rich cultural heritage and years of cooking experience to the table. "He worked for the Tapas Group for 23 years, and I graduated from Northampton Community College in culinary arts," Saray explains. "Since I went to college for culinary and food service management and my husband has a lot of experience, we decided to open our own restaurant."
Their restaurant is the first Costa Rican-Mexican fusion eatery in the Lehigh Valley, offering a unique blend of flavors and culinary traditions. This distinction has earned them numerous accolades, including placement in both the Latin American and International Food categories, as well as a gold award for their vegetarian offerings.
Owning a small business has had a profound impact on the couple’s lives, providing them with the opportunity to connect deeply with the community. "It definitely is our passion to serve the community. Having a restaurant is very good because we can get to know people," she shares. "Despite opening just a month before the pandemic, customers have been very nice to us and we are happy."
The journey to opening Orizaba was not without its hurdles. The couple had a vision but lacked the financial resources to bring it to life. That’s when Rising Tide stepped in. "We didn't actually have any money to open the restaurant, to be honest with you," she recalls. "We are very grateful with Rising Tide because they made it possible." Rising Tide loaned them $50,000 for various costs, including capital equipment, real estate, leasehold improvements, location and administration expenses, opening inventory, advertising/promotional expenses, and working capital.
Saray’s relationship with Rising Tide began long before they opened the restaurant. "Before we opened, I learned about Rising Tide. We did the classes they require. It was a long time ago, maybe 15 years," she notes. "We got to get the knowledge of everything—a little bit of everything. I will say every aspect was important for us."
Rising Tide continued to support Orizaba through the challenging early months of the pandemic. "They always were available and giving us advice and letting us know when there were funds available or other ways to help the business," she says.
For those considering opening a restaurant, Saray offers candid advice: "If you have experience in the restaurant industry and it is your passion, you can go and open a restaurant. If not, you better not try because it's not easy. It's tough. It has to be your passion.”
She also highlights the importance of programs like Rising Tide and Community Action Lehigh Valley in fostering a strong local business ecosystem. "When we first opened, they always were there. We were in a pandemic. They supported us, and we felt that we were not alone in going through that."
As Orizaba continues to grow, the owners are eager to welcome more patrons. "I would like people to know where we are and to come try. We really put a lot of love into our daily work," she says.
Thanks to the support of Rising Tide Community Loan Fund and the couples' unwavering commitment to their dream, Orizaba has become more than just a restaurant—it’s a symbol of the resilience of small business, community, and cultural pride in Bethlehem. Stop by and experience the delicious fusion of Costa Rican and Mexican flavors that make Orizaba truly unique at 614 Broad Street in Bethlehem.
As you can see, small businesses are more than just a storefront—they’re the heart and soul of our community, driven by passionate individuals with unique dreams and determination. Starting and sustaining a small business can be a daunting financial challenge, but nonprofit organizations like Rising Tide Community Loan Fund, led by Chris Hudock, Associate Executive Director of Business Development, make it possible for local entrepreneurs to thrive. Without their support, many of the businesses you love—or have yet to discover—might not exist.
To learn more about how Rising Tide helps entrepreneurs with business planning, marketing assistance, funding, and more, visit TheRisingTide.org. If you’d like to donate or explore ways to support their mission, please contact Barbara Kochard, Associate Executive Director of Development, at bkochard@caclv.org. Let’s continue to uplift the small business community together!
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