Financial Empowerment: A Recipe for Success
When Jeannette and her husband, Jose Luis, decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship and start their own food truck business, Taqueria El Taquero Guzman, they knew they would face some financial challenges. Unexpectedly, a local financial empowerment program became the special sauce that helped launch their business to new heights.
Spicing Up Their Finances with Financial Coaching Success
The program is called SparkPoint OC, and it’s part of Orange County United Way’s United for Financial Security initiative. It provides free one-on-one financial coaching to residents to help build financial stability. Participants work with a case manager to create personalized plans to reach goals like buying a home, paying for college, or reducing debt.
This community financial empowerment program is offered at nine locations across Orange County, including Title I elementary schools and underserved neighborhoods. These centralized locations ensure comprehensive services can be delivered to families safely, conveniently, and effectively.
One of the SparkPoint OC sites is at Washington Elementary in Santa Ana, where Jeannette and Jose Luis’s son attends.
“I signed up because I was curious and wanted some guidance on our personal finances,” said Jeannette. “I didn’t anticipate that it would help our business so much as well.”
The Secret Ingredient: Small Business Growth Support
As first-time business owners, Jeannette and Jose Luis were unsure of where to turn for guidance. Their food truck was gaining popularity, but seeing that it was just the two of them running all aspects of the business, they were having trouble keeping up with finances and scaling to meet demand.
“Customers wanted a restaurant, but we didn’t know how to go about that process,” Jeannette shared.
Jeannette and Jose Luis began seeing a shift in what was possible after redoing the budget for their small business. And less than a year after joining the financial empowerment program, they saw an opportunity to open a brick-and-mortar location.
“Our case manager, Edith, really helped us see things from a financial perspective,” said Jeannette. “She went above and beyond to answer all our questions and provide the small business growth support we needed to budget and stay organized. SparkPoint OC gave us the guidance we needed.”
Today’s Special: Entrepreneurship Success Story
Taqueria El Taquero Guzman opened in November 2024, and Jeannette and Jose Luis are thrilled with the new space.
“We now have room to do more—like make our own tortillas and add more handmade items,” Jeannette said excitedly.
Recently, Edwards Lifesciences hired them to host a teacher appreciation lunch at Washington Elementary. This was a special experience for all involved since it was the same school where their financial empowerment journey began, but also because through a partnership with Orange County United Way, Edwards Lifesciences actively supports a wide range of programs and activities that enrich students’ lives and strengthen the entire school community.
In fact, it was Edwards Lifesciences’ support that made the Washington Elementary financial empowerment program site possible! What a full circle moment.
Serving Up Advice for Others
For Jeannette and Jose Luis, the support from SparkPoint OC has been invaluable, and they are enthusiastic about sharing their experience with others.
Jeannette’s advice: “If you have questions or need guidance financially, this is the program that can help make a real difference.”
As they look forward, Jeannette and Jose Luis are proud to have their eldest son helping in the restaurant. “Our goal is to expand the business even more and, one day, leave it to our children,” Jeannette shared. “It means a lot to have something concrete to pass on to the next generation.”
If you’d like to visit Jeannette and Jose Luis’s restaurant, stop by Taqueria El Taquero Guzman at 925 W Warner Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92707 and see their story of financial empowerment come to life.
How the Financial Empowerment Program Works
SparkPoint OC helps households create step-by-step personal financial plans to address specific needs — from paying down debt and improving credit to going back to school or building assets.
With one-on-one financial coaching success, goal-setting plans are created in four key areas:
- Increasing Income
- Improving Credit
- Reducing Debt
- Building Assets
As part of Orange County United Way’s United for Financial Security initiative, SparkPoint OC works alongside other programs like OC Free Tax Prep and UpSkill OC to create brighter financial futures for local families.
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Is SparkPoint OC Right for You?
If you’re an Orange County resident aged 18+ and would like more information or to register for the program, fill out the interest form.
