Gov. Bruce Rauner marked Small Business Saturday with a visit to several small businesses in Chicago, including El Nopal Bakery in the Little Village community, a release from his office said.
“The impact of small businesses on our economy can’t be overstated,” Rauner said, according to the release. “About 90 percent of companies exporting goods in our state are small businesses. They generate billions of dollars in exports. Not only that, the owners of businesses like Little Village’s El Nopal are our neighbors and friends; they form the backbone of communities everywhere and deserve our support throughout the year.”
El Nopal originally opened in 1954 and recently reopened after closing for two years, during which time the bakery came under new ownership. El Nopal now employs eight workers, making it one of the small businesses responsible for employing 46 percent of the state’s private workforce.
“It feels great having the governor here during Small Business Saturday,” El Nopal co-owner Ozzie Ocegueda said in the release. “Giving back to the community what they once had and loved – it just feels so good to bring it back and actually see all of the customers just enjoying something they (knew) for so many years in the past.”
Alerts Sign-up