Scaling Up with Intention: Capital Readiness for Native Food & Ag Business

The leap from running your business to growing your business can be exciting—and overwhelming. The Northwest Native Chamber’s Food Pathways Program, in collaboration with Craft3, invites Native food and agriculture business owners in the Portland metro area to join us for an in-person workshop on scaling up successfully.

This session will help you:

• Strengthen your business foundation before seeking funding
• Understand capital options through lenders like Craft3 and other CDFIs
• Explore ways to scale safely and sustainably without overextending
• Build the knowledge and confidence to take on larger projects like land or facility purchases

Whether you’re adding your first employees, increasing production, or expanding into new markets, this workshop will give you the tools, resources, and trusted relationships to grow your business while protecting your long-term stability.

Aldo Medina Martinez (He/ him/ él)

Aldo oversees Craft3’s Business Services and Commercial Intake Programs. He leads a team of passionate individuals to support clients and meet them where they are. Growing up in a working-class neighborhood where people were often unfairly impacted by systemic barriers, he developed a passion for helping immigrants and other people of color learn how to build assets and generational wealth.

Outside of work, Aldo enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, hiking, camping, and making home-cooked meals. He is an immigrant and is proud of his Mexican heritage and looks forward to sharing it with his daughter as she grows older.

Prior to joining Craft3 in 2021, Aldo worked with Hacienda CDC as the Mercado Programs Director and a Business Advising Program Manager. He grew up in the San Gabriel Valley in the City of El Monte, CA. Aldo is a proud 2019 NALCAB Pete Garcia Community Economic Development Fellow and a 2024 LIDERAMOS CCL Latino Leader Fellow.

Miri Plowman (She/ her)

As Business Services Coach, Miri helps entrepreneurs prepare for the loan application process through one-on-one coaching and facilitating workshops. A former business owner, she was drawn to Craft3 because of our mission to support entrepreneurs who are overlooked: “I know that helping these businesses can make our entire region more vibrant and interesting.”

Miri enjoys getting to know entrepreneurs and building strong relationships with them. “I use my lived experiences as a former business owner to cultivate a sense of trust,” Miri reflects. “I’m excited to give entrepreneurs a safe and informed place to land and grow.”

Outside of work, Miri participates in Whidbey Prepares, a group focused on community disaster preparedness and is currently building her knowledge of medicinal herbs. She also enjoys being active through swimming, biking, and playing pickleball.

Host or Publisher Northwest Native Chamber