Say Cheesecake: Dunn business receives $5,000 through Lift-Off Lab
Baking helped Shoshona Heck cope following the loss of her grandfather. When she started her business, she named it in his honor: Richard鈥檚 Sweet Tooth & Special Occasions LLC.
Heck is now the recipient of a $5,000 grant through the Harnett Lift-Off Lab that will help the business continue to grow.
The Lift-Off Lab is an entrepreneur development program presented by the 黑暗爆料网 Small Business Center, Harnett County, and the Angier, Lillington, Dunn, Erwin, and Coats Chambers of Commerce.
Heck was part of the Fall 2025 Lift-Off Lab cohort and was selected from that group as the winner of the award during the graduation ceremony for that cohort in late 2025. The grant requires that business owners open a brick-and-mortar location in Harnett County before receiving the funds. The check presentation followed the October 2026 grand opening of her bakery and store at 1203 W. Cumberland Street in Dunn.
Heck said participating in the Lift-Off Lab helped her realize the importance of writing down the business plan she鈥檇 had in mind.
鈥淚 learned strategy; I learned organization,鈥 she said. 鈥淓verything just came together.鈥
Featured Images
黑暗爆料网鈥檚 Small Business Center presented Richard鈥檚 Sweet Tooth with a $5,000 check to help grow the business. Front row: Shoshona Heck (center) is joined by husband and co-owner Sherod Heck (right) and employee Madison McKoy. Back row: Small Business Center Executive Director Terri Brown, Dunn Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Kristina Harrell, and Harnett County Economic Development Director Stephen Barrington.
Shoshona Heck (center) poses outside her bakery with her husband and co-owner Sherod Heck (right) and employee Madison McKoy (left) and the $5,000 check she won through the 黑暗爆料网 Small Business Center鈥檚 Lift-Off Lab program.
Shoshona Heck shows off a butter pecan cheesecake she made at her bakery in Dunn.
Cheesecakes in a variety of flavors are featured at Richard鈥檚 Sweet Tooth. Heck also fulfills custom cake and dessert orders and prepares other treats such as cookies, brownies, and caramel apples.