Professional Services Agreement - St Marys Womens Entrepreneurship Initiative - Spark Womens Business Accelerator Neighborhood Pilot

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EXHIBIT A "The Program" PilotSPARK Women's Business Accelerator Neighborhood The Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI) at Saint Mary's College seeks partnership with the City of South Bend's Engagement and Economic Empowerment Team to support economic inclusion for small business owners residing and doing business in historically divested neighborhoods. This collaboration will increase access to economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on support for African American and Latina populations. Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative at Saint Mary's College WEI's mission is to economically empower women through business ownership and career advancement. We do this by offering year-round programming (SPARK women's business accelerator, SPARK Mastermind, Thrive professional development series, and Engaging Women Conference) and services (business mentorship, referrals to lenders and to other technical assistance resources) as well as through education and advocacy. We are able to offer our programs at nominal fees thanks to generous underwriting by our corporate partners. WEI helps women assess the viability of their business ideas, launch and grow successful businesses, and transition out of business if it is not profitable, breaking even, or meeting the goals and needs of the business owner. Poverty reduction, wealth creation, and increased earning power for women, especially women of color, are the foundation of all that we do. Our community, neighborhoods, and families are stronger and more resilient when women are able to maintain financial self-sufficiency, prosper, and build generational wealth. Equitable Support for Women Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship has the potential to drive innovation and economic growth, but equitable support is required to unlock that potential. WEI builds the entrepreneurial capacity of under-resourced, high - potential women, helping them overcome economic and social barriers and develop their ideas into viable, profitable businesses so that they can achieve self-sufficiency in the mainstream economy for themselves and eventually create jobs for others. By targeting low-income women and focusing on the needs of traditionally under -served groups, including minorities and immigrants, WEI brings new resources into local communities in a unique model.