How a $5,000 Hospitality Grant Opens Doors

Sometimes, the right opportunity can make a big difference on both sides of the table.

For Calgary’s Fiesta Market and Restaurant, the Alberta Hospitality Association’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Grant provided an opportunity to bring new skills into the business while giving a recent graduate the chance to gain meaningful, real-world experience.

The result? A stronger online presence for a local hospitality business and an important first step in a young professional’s career.

Meet Fiesta Market and Restaurant

Emigdio Valenzuela immigrated to Canada from Mexico in 2005. In 2017, he and his wife opened Fiesta Market and Restaurant in Calgary, combining an authentic Mexican restaurant with a Latin American grocery store.

For Emigdio, Alberta has proven to be a welcoming place to build a business.

“Albertans and Calgarians are very kind and supportive people,” he says. “They appreciate our food and our products very much. We feel happy to have this business located here in Calgary, Alberta.”

But like many small hospitality businesses, Fiesta has to be thoughtful about where it invests its resources. There are areas of the business where additional expertise could make a significant impact, but hiring someone with specialized skills isn’t always financially possible.

That’s where the WIL Grant came in.

Bringing New Skills Into a Small Business

Fiesta needed help with its website.

Their existing site was outdated and no longer represented the business the way Emigdio wanted it to. Improving it required technical expertise that the existing team simply didn’t have.

Through the WIL Grant, Fiesta was able to bring Alex, a recent graduate and web developer, onto the team.

“He helped us professionalize it in every sense of the way,” Emigdio says.

The work gave Fiesta a stronger digital presence and a better way to reach both new and existing customers, something Emigdio expects will ultimately support the growth of the business.

More importantly, the funding made bringing that expertise onto the team possible.

“Simply put, if it had not been for the Grant, we would not have ever met Alex and benefited from his professional work.”

An Opportunity That Works Both Ways

The impact wasn’t limited to Fiesta.

The position was Alex’s first formal job as a web developer, giving him an opportunity to put his education into practice, build his resume and develop new skills in a real-world environment.

While working with Fiesta, Alex was able to further develop his knowledge and experience. According to Emigdio, those skills helped Alex as he pursued the next step in his career, ultimately contributing to him landing a new job opportunity.

For Emigdio, that is part of what makes programs like WIL so valuable.

“This job has been a launching platform for him, to get his professional career going.”

It’s a great example of what can happen when Alberta hospitality businesses and emerging professionals are given the opportunity to work together: businesses gain access to new perspectives and specialized skills, while graduates get the experience they need to start building their careers.

Thinking About Applying? Don’t Wait.

When asked what he would tell another Alberta hospitality owner or operator considering the WIL Grant, Emigdio’s answer was immediate:

“Do not wait any longer and apply right away!”

For him, the value goes beyond financial support. It’s an investment in small businesses, hands-on professional experience for students and recent graduates, and the broader community.

“It is funding that is applied towards the betterment of small businesses, hands-on experience and professional formation of students/recent graduates, and as a result, a boost to the economy. I believe that is a perfect combination that benefits our community and our country.”

Fiesta’s experience is proof that a first opportunity can go a long way.

For an emerging professional, it can be the experience that helps launch a career. For a hospitality business, it can mean gaining access to the talent and expertise needed to tackle an important project, strengthen the business and prepare for what’s next.

Interested in bringing emerging talent into your business?
Learn more about AHA’s WIL Grant Program and how it can help support your next hire.

Brought to you in partnership with the Government of Alberta