Projects

This is a classic, all-American success story:

Five brothers and their families flee a war-torn Vietnam, surviving long days at sea and encounters with pirates. Once safely in America, the brothers practice their English and, after six years of struggling, pool their savings to buy a small business in San Francisco, a coffee shop called Sugar Bowl Bakery.

Thirty years later, that little coffee shop has grown to become a leader in the baked goods business. The Ly’s family-run business was so successful, they needed to expand in order to serve customers with their popular madeleines, palmiers, brownie bites and apple fritters.

This time, their adventure was smoother sailing. With Quick Start’s help, Sugar Bowl’s expansion in Tucker, Ga. has exceeded expectations.

Quick Start is “an excellent public-private partnership,” says Tim Ashmore, Sugar Bowl’s corporate director of HR. “Quick Start works with the company to benefit Sugar Bowl Bakery and the community at large,” he adds.

“Unlike canned training programs, Quick Start assesses the needs of the business,” Ashmore says, “It’s a cooperative program to develop curriculum.”

Ashmore considers Quick Start as much a retention tool as it is an economic development tool.

“Quick Start was a plus to locate to Tucker, but we anticipate we will use it in the future. Quick Start is available to keep you in the community.”