July 11, 2016 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—The Saint Mary’s College Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI) is proud to announce the annual session of the SPARK entrepreneurship training program. SPARK is intended to assist local high-potential, under-resourced female entrepreneurs to “spark” or launch successful businesses.
Prescreening for the SPARK Program begins July 12. Candidates must apply in person at 130 Spes Unica Hall on the campus of Saint Mary's College.
SPARK is focused on helping women create a corporate identity and a business plan, implement marketing strategies and promotional materials, and learn skills in time management, bookkeeping, attaining a business loan, and general success strategies. Since the first SPARK program began in 2011, more than 121 women have graduated, and 38 have launched and sustained businesses. Those who participate are fondly called “SPARKlers.”
SPARK’s mission is to cultivate an entrepreneurial capacity in women... to advance them beyond socio-economic boundaries and achieve self-sufficiency. This happens through education, business training, and ongoing professional mentoring. Established business owners in the region lead the SPARK classes and, as mentors, teach best practices to the budding entrepreneurs. WEI works collaboratively with small business support organizations such as the North Central Indiana Small Business Development Center and South Bend SCORE Chapter 0266, which offers ongoing professional mentoring
SPARK is an 11-week session that offers a morning or evening track. Prescreening will close August 31 and orientation will be September 8. Classes are scheduled to meet from 8 to 11 a.m. or 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting on Tuesday, September 20 and ending on December 6. Twenty-eight people will be selected for the program. The cost of the SPARK tuition is $250, plus $50 for curriculum costs.
Those interested in more information about being involved in SPARK as a participant, facilitator, mentor, or volunteer can email Joan McClendon, WEI’s associate program director, at wei@saintmarys.edu or jmcclendon@saintmarys.edu. No calls please.
About the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI): The Department of Business Administration and Economics and the Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership at Saint Mary’s College launched WEI in 2010 after the College received a $245,000 Small Business Administration grant to support women’s entrepreneurship in the region. Though the grant has expired, WEI is sustained through the generosity of Jack Ruhe, professor emeritus of business, alumnae, NIPSCO, The Pokagon Fund, and local banks including 1st Source, and PNC. WEI partners with community businesses, non-profits, and other organizations to provide financial and business education services to women entrepreneurs. WEI is pronounced "we."
About Saint Mary's College: Celebrating over 175 years of empowering women to make a difference in the world, Saint Mary’s College is recognized as a pioneer and continued force in the education of women. A Catholic, liberal arts institution in Notre Dame, Indiana, the College offers more than 50 undergraduate academic programs and also offers co-educational master’s degrees.
