Paper Tacos chosen as 2026 Small Business of the year for Assembly District 29

Paper Tacos, arguably one of Salinas’ most unique ventures that creates bilingual greeting cards, was honored as one of the year’s small businesses by the State of California.

Led by Jesús Ruvalcaba, an artist and entrepreneur, Paper Tacos was founded in 2017 and grew from having a small collection of 15 greeting cards into a nationally recognized brand. The Salinas-based company creates bilingual, distinctive, greeting cards.

Paper Tacos was chosen by Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, as the 2026 Small Business of the Year for Assembly District 29. According to Rivas, the company was chosen for its cultural impact, remarkable growth and its commitment to celebrating Latino identity.

“If you want to know what California entrepreneurship looks like at its finest, look no further than Paper Tacos. Jesús Ruvalcaba took a personal experience and turned it into something truly special — a business that’s rooted in culture, fueled by community and bursting with creativity,” said Rivas via a press release. “The son of immigrant farmworkers, Jesús grew something extraordinary right here in the Salinas Valley — and now you can find it in his stores across our state and beyond. That’s not just a success story. That’s California at its absolute best.”

Ruvalcaba said he was surprised when he learned that Paper Tacos was chosen as the small business of the year by Rivas. He said he was incredibly honored.

“I started Paper Tacos because I wanted to create greeting cards that reflected my family, my culture, and the community I grew up in,” Ruvalcaba says. “To have that work recognized by Speaker Rivas and the California State Legislature means so much. This award is not just about business growth...it’s about representation, creativity, and showing that stories from places like Salinas deserve to be seen and celebrated.”

On Friday, Ruvalcaba said Paper Tacos is in the middle of creating greeting cards for the current graduation ceremonies and for upcoming Father’s Day. During the summer, the team will concentrate on working towards the fall and winter holidays.