U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves Celebrates Minority-Owned Business Shugar Shack Soul Food During Visit to Delaware County

Glenolden Borough, PA – On Tuesday, March 26th, the U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves visited Shugar Shack Soul Food, a Black- and woman-owned take-out restaurant in Glenolden Borough, Delaware County.

Deputy Secretary Graves had the opportunity to tour the restaurant, meet with chef/owner Keenya Cain-Wiggins and her staff, and enjoy a delicious meal. The visit highlighted the importance of supporting minorityowned businesses and small businesses, which are the backbone of the Delaware County economy.

“We are thrilled to have welcomed Deputy Secretary Graves to Glenolden Borough and to Shugar Shack Soul Food,” said Mayor Cliff Engel, Borough of Glenolden. “Shugar Shack is a shining example of the many talented and driven minority-owned businesses that contribute to the vibrancy of our business community.”

Shugar Shack Soul Food serves savory soul food with Southern and Caribbean roots. In addition to her work at Shugar Shack, Ms. Cain-Wiggins is a true business leader in Delaware County. She is the founder of ‘Delco Nite Markets’, which amplify Black-owned businesses in the community. She also uses her podcast to discuss economic opportunities with other business owners.

“Keenya Cain-Wiggins doesn't just focus on her own success; she works tirelessly to lift up the entire community of small business owners in Delaware County,” said Dr. Monica Taylor, Chair of Delaware County Council. “That’s exactly the kind of leadership we like to see.”

Delaware County’s Strong Small Business Economy

“The importance of supporting small businesses is underscored by the fact that 98% of Delaware County businesses are considered ‘small’ by state and federal definitions, according to US Census 2021 County Business Patterns reports,” said Laura Goodrich Cairns, County of Delaware, Commerce Director. We have a strong small business economic base. We work with our local, state, and federal elected officials to find new ways to support our small business economy here in Delaware County.”

While not reaching pre-pandemic levels, the number of jobs in Delaware County have significantly grown nearly 20% from our low in March of 2020. Plus, the amount of business registration filings are at an all-time high of 14,581 (Preliminary Q3 2023 from the US Dept of Labor). “This growth highlights the need for continued support for small businesses, including technical assistance and affordable financing,” added Goodrich Cairns.

The Delaware County Commerce Center is committed to helping businesses in Delaware County grow and thrive. The Commerce Center offers a variety of programs and resources to assist small businesses, including business counseling, loan programs, and networking opportunities. For more information, please visit delcopa.org.

Shugar Shack Soul Food is located at 45 N Chester Pike in Glenolden, PA. For menus and more, please visit shugarshacksoulfood.com.

FEATURED PHOTO: Chef / Owner Keenya Cain-Wiggins presents a freshly made take-out order for U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves at her establishment, Shugar Shack Soul Food in Glenolden Borough, Delaware County.

ABOUT the Delaware County Commerce Center: The Delaware County Commerce Center is a centralized location for all economic development in Delaware County. This award-winning agency operates as an umbrella organization for the administration of various economic development boards and authorities including the Delaware County Economic Development Oversight Board (EDOB), Delaware County Industrial Development Authority (IDA), Delaware County Redevelopment Authority (RDA), Delaware County Industrial Development Corporation, and the Delaware County Chester Waterfront Industrial Development Authority. For more information please visit https://www.delcopa.org/

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