Inspire Mishawaka Overview - 1 Million Cups Mishawaka

http://www.1millioncups.com/mishawaka
https://mishawakabusiness.org/inspire-mishawaka

Transcript

1. ✻ inspire m i s h a w a k a INSPIRING GROWTH I N M I S H AWA K A Support Local. Shop Local. Grow Local. Presented by Sonya Smith, President • Cindy Cohen, Vice President A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit • inspiremishawaka.org Inspire Mishawaka • director@inspiremishawaka.com
2. OUR MISSION Drive economic and social growth in downtown Mishawaka by building partnerships, supporting local businesses, promoting community events, and inspiring an active, connected community. Support Local. Shop Local. Grow Local. SONYA SMITH President EMBA CEO, Wealth in Motion Consulting LLC CINDY COHEN Vice President RN, BS BA Founder, C2 Your Health Women’s Initiative Inc. AT A G L A N C E 1,155 Attendees engaged 45 Gatherings hosted 59 Entrepreneur businesses 60+ New MBA memberships Inspire Mishawaka • inspiremishawaka.org • #inspiremishawaka
3. INSPIRING GROWTH IN MISH AWA K A 1MC 1MC MISHAWAKA Weekly entrepreneur business pitches. Launched April 2023 MM MEMBER MONDAYS Celebrating members & promoting local businesses. Launched Q4 2025 MBI Mishawaka Business Institute Small business certification with the City of Mishawaka. Launched Feb 2026 SEP SEP PROGRAM High-school internship & small enterprise partnership support. 2026 school year Inspire Mishawaka • inspiremishawaka.org • #inspiremishawaka
4. 1 MILLION CUPS • MISHAWAKA Weekly Entrepreneur Business Pitches A free national program connecting entrepreneurs with their community over coffee and conversation. THE PAST YEAR ▪ Established 2023 — entrepreneur and resource presentations ▪ Workshops, seminars, networking, and educational presentations PROGRESS ▪ Attendance: 1,155 ▪ Gatherings: 45 ▪ Resource Introductions: 8 ▪ Workshops & Seminars: 23 ▪ Entrepreneur Businesses: 59 ACHIEVEMENTS ▪ Strengthening the City of Mishawaka ecosystem ▪ Awarded to present for the 2nd year at Idea Week ▪ 60+ new MBA memberships COMMUNITY PARTNERS: City of Mishawaka • MBA • Wealth in Motion Consulting • C2 Your Health Women’s Initiative Inspire Mishawaka • inspiremishawaka.org • #inspiremishawaka
5. MISHAWAKA BUSINESS INSTITUTE Business Coaching | Mentoring | Training | Certification P H A S E 1 FUNDING Workshops to access capital and grow with confidence. P H A S E 2 COMMUNITY Seminars, lunch & learns, and virtual education. P H A S E 3 INDIVIDUAL One-on-one coaching and mentoring. T H E PAS T Y E AR ▪ Program creation and development ▪ Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Mishawaka P R O G R E S S ▪ Phase 1 — Funding workshops ▪ Phase 2 — Community seminars ▪ Phase 3 — Individual coaching AC H I E V E M E N T S ▪ 15 months of funding & business-building workshops ▪ 2026 funding — 1st Source Bank Foundation Inspire Mishawaka • inspiremishawaka.org • #inspiremishawaka
6. MEMBER MONDAYS "Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together." — Paul Ryan Network with Mishawaka Business Association members at local restaurants. Meet, connect, and discover how MBA benefits can help your business thrive. Join us every 4th Monday. Learn. Grow. Connect. U P C O M I N G G AT H E R I N G S Monday, April 27, 2026 — 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Doc Pierce’s Monday, May 18, 2026 — 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Craft One Half Monday, June 22, 2026 — 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Monterrey Mexican Bar & Grill 4th MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH N E T W O R K L E AR N G R O W Inspire Mishawaka • inspiremishawaka.org • #inspiremishawaka
7. STUDENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM Connecting High School Students with Local Businesses The Inspire Mishawaka SEP connects high school students with local businesses for hands- on work experience, skill-building, and career exploration — benefiting students, employers, and the community alike. S STUDENTS Real-world work experience and career exploration. E EM PLOYERS Access motivated emerging talent. C COMMUNITY Stronger local economy and pipeline. C O M M U N I T Y PAR T N E R S Mishawaka Business Association Inspire Mishawaka Mishawaka Education Foundation Mishawaka School City P R O G R E S S Feb 2026 Now accepting applications & interviewing local businesses and students. Apply → mishawakabusiness.org Inspire Mishawaka • inspiremishawaka.org • #inspiremishawaka
8. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP O U R PA R T N E R S ▪ City of Mishawaka ▪ Mishawaka Business Association (MBA) ▪ Mishawaka Education Foundation ▪ Mishawaka School City ▪ Wealth in Motion Consulting, LLC ▪ C2 Your Health Women’s Initiative Inc. ▪ 1st Source Bank Foundation G R A N T S & R E C O G N I T I O N 1ST SOURCE BANK FOUNDATION Grant award supporting MBI program development. McCLOSKEY NEW VENTURE COMPETITION Achieved Semi-Finalist 2023. IDEA WEEK Awarded to present for the 2nd consecutive year. CITY OF MISHAWAKA Memorandum of Understanding for small business certification. Inspire Mishawaka • inspiremishawaka.org • #inspiremishawaka
9. JOIN US. SUPPORT US. Support Local. Shop Local. Grow Local. GET CONNECTED mishawakabusiness.org/inspire-mishawaka DONATE NOW Your support powers local growth. Inspire Mishawaka • director@inspiremishawaka.com
10. THANK YOU. Sonya Smith, President • Cindy Cohen, Vice President director@inspiremishawaka.com • inspiremishawaka.org • #inspiremishawaka Inspire Mishawaka — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit