NOTRE DAME — The Saint Mary’s College Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI) is proud to announce that this fall it will host its fifth session of the SPARK entrepreneurship training program and a new SPARK-Art program for entrepreneurial artists. SPARK is intended to assist local under-resourced, high-potential entrepreneurs to “spark” or launch successful businesses. SPARK-Art is open to these women in addition to area college and graduate students. Candidates for either program must apply in person at a mandatory 2-hour orientation and screening session at 5 p.m., Thursday, September 19 in rooms 135 and 137 of Spes Unica Hall.

SPARK is an 11-week session that offers a morning or evening track. Classes meet twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The cost of the session is $125. SPARK-Art is 12-week session that will meet on Thursdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The cost of the session is $225.

Both SPARK and SPARK-Art are 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. Both programs will meet from the last week of September through mid-December.

Those interested in more information about being involved in SPARK as a participant, facilitator, mentor, or volunteer can email Smith at mailto:wei@saintmarys.edu or call (574) 284-5262.