Rutland-based food truck receives $50K loan for expansion
Photo | Courtesy of North Central Massachusetts Development Corp.
HaBBQ, a Rutland-based food truck business, has received a $50,000 loan from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. Pictured in the photo are Sandie Cataldo (left), Senior Economic Development Manager at the NCMDC and Jordan El-Qasem, Owner of HaBBQ.
HaBBQ, a Rutland-based food truck business, has received a $50,000 loan from the North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. to purchase a trailer.
Founded by Jordan El-Qasem, HaBBQ serves Texas-style BBQ infused with Middle Eastern spices. All meats served are halal-certified, meaning they adhere to Islamic law and are permissible for Muslim consumption, according to a Wednesday press release from the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, which manages NCMDC.
HaBBQ can be found at food festivals, breweries, events, and venues throughout Central Massachusetts.
“I’ve been working to perfect my recipe for the past five years and I’m looking forward to sharing my unique take on traditional BBQ with foodies, BBQ enthusiasts, and the entire community,” El-Qasem said in the press release. “The North Central Development Corporation and the Small Business Development Center made it possible for me to turn my passion into an established business with their expertise, knowledge and guidance toward the financing and business acumen I needed to make my dream come true.”
NCMDC is the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and offers microloans up to $250,000 to small businesses. These loans can be used for working capital, real estate, equipment, inventory, and expansion.
Past recipients of NCMDC funding include Best Family Fitness, a gym in Clinton which received a loan worth $32,000, and Brooks-MacMannis Florist and Greenhouse, an Athol business which received a $150,000 loan.
Lucy Coran is an editorial intern for Worcester Business Journal and a rising sophomore at Smith College.
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