Tom Tom Founders Festival

InnovationFoodArts:

In 2012, the Community Investment Collaborative (CIC) was Tom Tom's inaugural entrepreneur in residence. They are a unique enterprise that trains budding entrepreneurs and offers micro-loans at the conclusion of their training.

Tom Tom is pleased to reconnect with the CIC at two events over the weekend:
Saturday, April 13, 2013 (12pm-2pm)
Sunday, April14, 2013 (1pm-4pm)

SHOWCASE:

Why do local microenterprises matter? They can build communities, and micro-entrepreneurs can promote job creation/retention, increased local spending, higher rates of civic engagement, and higher standards of living.

On the Saturday and Sunday of the Tom Tom Festival, CIC will host an expo of our businesses as an opportunity for the entrepreneurs to engage with the larger community: share their passions and motivations, samplings of their foods, soaps, music, and more, and connect with members of our community through stories, visuals, and tastings.

Saturday will culminate in a cook-off among our food-related businesses, with the crowd judging the winning dishes. Sunday will kick off with a film screening of “Making Good” and a discussion about community builders featured in the documentary and working with CIC.

Here are some of the businesses we are excited to showcase:

- DRC Catering, represented by Sandra Carter (existing)
- Jamakin’ Me Crazy, represented by Susan Chambers (startup)
- Adial Fashion, represented by Alfred Allen-EL (existing)
- Agee’s Catering and Takeout, represented by Eric Agee (existing)
- Vinegar Hill Canning Cooperative, represented by Denise Arnold (existing)
- The Charlottesville Ballet, represented by Sara Jansen-Clayborne (existing)
- Bite-Sized Empanadas represented by Luis Dorta (startup)
- K&B Skate Park Central, represented by Erin Davis (startup)
- Salome’s Creations, represented by Selena Cozart-O’Shaughnessy (existing)
- The Happy Tomato, represented by Liz James (existing)
- Stevie G’s Gluten-Free Bakery, represented by sisters Sue Gass and Stephanie White (existing)
- Kindred Collective, represented by Lexi Hutchins (existing)
- Community Wash & Fold, represented by Trey Coe (startup)
- Mega Sound Entertainment, represented by Cle Logan (existing)
- A Taste of Home Catering, represented by Yolunda Armstrong (existing)
- Peg’s Salt, represented by Cass Cannon (existing)
- Mexican Pinchos, represented by Cristel Hernandez (startup)