Empower Solano to honor 5 local businesses, owners

Empower Solano will host a ceremony honoring small businesses that successfully pivoted and kept serving the community safely during the pandemic.

Five businesses will be highlighted at the affair and their owners will receive certificates or recognition from the offices of Congressman John Garamendi, California State Sen. Bill Dodd and California Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson.

The director of the California Office of Small Business Advocates, Tara Lynn Gray, will be keynote speaker. Tim Murrill, executive director of the Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center, will also speak.

The event will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center, 500 Chadbourne Road, Fairfield.

The public is invited and business owners, entrepreneurs or anyone trying to start a business are encouraged to attend. Admission is free. Refreshments will be served.

"We want to pay tribute to small businesses that have done an exceptional job keeping their doors open and serving the public during unprecedented circumstances over the last three years," said K. Patrice Williams, Empower Solano's executive director and Fairfield city councilmember, in a press statement. "The event will also be a great opportunity for anyone in business or looking to start a business to network and get some valuable insights on resources available to them in the county and at the state level."

Businesses being honored are Journey Coffee of Fairfield and Vacaville and the company's owners Morne and Nicole Van Staden; Bay Hauling of Vallejo and its owner Juan Vallejos; Two60 Kitchen and Bar of Fairfield and owner Molly Tau; Marina Lounge of Suisun City and owner Elease Cheek; and Tomorrow House Supportive Living, located in Fairfield and owned by Duke and Gabrielle Phillippe-Auguste.

The event marks National Small Business Month, which is held every year in May to commemorate the contributions small businesses bring to their communities.