After being part of a company-wide layoff in the medical field, Carol DiCarlo took her work experience and love of horses to launch a new business in Cheshire.
Now, nearly five years later, DiCarlo is part of a small business success story.
In what became a dream come true, DiCarlo opened the Cheshire Equestrian Center at 116 South Main St. in Sept. 2018.
DiCarlo was recently honored with the Microenterprise of the Year Award from the Small Business Administration and CBIA.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) recently visited the Cheshire Equestrian Center, and DiCarlo received a citation from the U.S. Senate and U.S. Congress for the award.
“It was a great honor to have Senator Blumenthal take the time to visit,” DiCarlo said. “He realizes all of the obstacles you encounter when you start your own business. I made it despite the statistics that are against me. I didn’t realize that small businesses employ over 40 percent of the workforce in the U.S., too.”
DiCarlo said that she has a “wonderful mentor” in Mary Kay Della Camera from the Connecticut Small Business Development Center.
“She has assisted me along the way with great opportunities for funding and resources that are available in our state,” DiCarlo said.