EDC CLIENT STORIES

At a very young age, Lura Ball’s father instilled in her to use two types of gifts. The first is the gift you learn in school, and the second is the gift you can create with your hands that nobody else can give. One of those gifts was handed down from her mother and other mothers that she had collected along the way, and that is the gift of baking and cooking. Lura gifted her homemade cookies to friends and acquaintances and the overwhelmingly positive response and high demand to sell her cookies led her to establish Lura’s Kitchen, a multigenerational family-owned business in 2021, offering a range of dry cookie mixes.

Through the EDC Small Business Development Center (EDC SBDC), Lura sought guidance for her business from the CA Dream Fund Grant Program. This effort was part of a broader initiative the Los Angeles SBDC Network ran to support California entrepreneurs as they launch their ventures. Through a combination of online workshops and personalized advising, the start-up training program offered guidance. It made participants eligible for a one-time grant upon completion.

This program had her work closely with finance advisor Sebastian Devivo, who provided invaluable assistance in understanding the complexities of her business. As Lura struggled with grief and self-doubt, Sebastian helped her see the importance of perseverance and determination in overcoming these challenges. Lura shared, “He [Sebastian] said you don’t fail until you quit. And I said you’re right. He said I’m not going to let you quit. He’s just, really, really great and full of knowledge and great to bounce things off of.” When discussing the key to her business’s growth and success, Lura credited the support and resources organizations like the EDC provided. Lura explained, “The key has been the organizations such as yours that have provided the resources that are out there.” Looking forward, Lura aims to expand her product line to include partnerships with restaurants and specialty stores, spreading joy through her culinary creations while positively impacting the communities she serves.