“Working with MEDA has been like having a board of directors in my corner,” Rolando said. “They provided strategic guidance that helped me understand what was working in my business and what needed to change.”

Rolando Borja-Trujillo

In 2020, tragedy struck when Rolando’s business was destroyed by a fire. This and related events brought him to the brink of bankruptcy. Despite being denied multiple loans, his persistence, paired with MEDA’s support, opened doors for new funding opportunities. He was able to secure two business loans, which were lifelines that enabled him to begin rebuilding.

Rolando said his biggest lessons are to be acutely aware of business operations, look for discrepancies in numbers, and resolve them as soon as they arise.  

“I had support and access to ideas. I believed in my product, and with support I could be creative again, and with that, the sky is the limit.”

From devastation to revival, Rolando’s journey is a testament to the power of determination, community support, and the will to rebuild stronger than before.