Caldera Impulsa III: Initiative succeeds in delivering 24 food carts to entrepreneurs of the commune

•  The entrepreneurs also received advice and training to enable them to fully develop their businesses.
• The initiative has benefited more than 164 enterprises in three years.

January 20, 2023. Compañía Minera del Pacífico (CMP), Aguas Cap, the Municipality of Caldera and Desafío Levantemos Chile delivered food carts to 24 community entrepreneurs as part of the "Caldera Impulsa III" initiative. The program lasted six months, during which the entrepreneurs received training in formalization, finances, social networks and personalized advice, ending with the delivery of the carts so that they can start the summer season developing and strengthening their businesses in the area.

Brunilda González Anjel, Mayor of Caldera, said "with this we make happy small entrepreneurs who previously worked informally or without adequate sanitary conditions. This is thanks to the commitment we have made together with all our Productive Development team and the support of the private sector. Here we have thought of an integral development of our commune, not only benefiting those people with greater needs, but also training in a correct productive and touristic development, for example, the carts have QR codes of the attractions of our commune, not only to settle down to sell. In addition, these carts will be distributed in various sectors of the commune, Playa Barranquilla, El Pulpo, Pulpito, Ramada, Rodillo and Caldera".

CMP's sustainability manager, Patrick McNab, said, "We are very pleased with this third version of the program. We hope that these 24 entrepreneurs continue to grow and contribute to the development of the local economy in Caldera. It is these projects that we seek to work on to strengthen alliances with our neighbors, in order to get closer to their needs and interests. Our main objective is to maximize the positive impact of CMP in the territories, hand in hand with sustainable socioeconomic development and the creation of shared value in the communities where we operate".

There are 22 women and two men who have benefited from this initiative, all of them linked to the world of gastronomy. Hot dogs, popcorn, candied peanuts, mote con huesillo, juices and coffee are some of the products offered by these businesses. This delivery is a new opportunity for them to provide a professional, clean and reliable service.

The general manager of Aguas CAP, Hernán Aravena, commented that "as Aguas CAP we are proud to be part of "Caldera Impulsa". It is these long-term, high-impact projects that generate sustainable value in our community by providing physical tools and new skills to entrepreneurs in our region. We are convinced that each new project will bring new and better opportunities to families and their environment. As Aguas CAP we will strive to continue growing together with the community."

During 2022, food handling and local cooking workshops were held at INACAP's Copiapó headquarters, along with various business management and marketing consulting and training sessions, in order to provide full support to the different businesses.

For his part, the executive director of Desafío Levantemos Chile, Ignacio Serrano, thanked the great work that has been generated throughout these three years of alliance and commented that "we are very happy with the work we have been able to do in the region, helping and giving new opportunities to entrepreneurs who today, more than ever, need our help. Entrepreneurship in our country has grown significantly in recent years, becoming the engine of our economy, which is why we urgently need to reactivate this sector, which was one of the most affected by the pandemic".

In March, a new series of workshops and training sessions will be held to provide continuous support for entrepreneurs and the development of their businesses.