Business growth program starts

Scale Up Milwaukee launches SPARC for companies too small for Scalerator

Scale Up Milwaukee is launching SPARC, a new growth-training program for Milwaukee businesses.

Milwaukee companies with revenue between $100,000 and $1 million can apply for the program to learn how to think about growth.

Scale Up Milwaukee is an initiative of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and supported by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

SPARC companies will take part in four sessions from October through December. Participation in the program is free, and admission does not come with funding for the businesses. The first cohort of SPARC has the capacity for 30 companies. The online application on Scale Up’s website is open through Sept. 15.

SPARC draws from Scale Up Milwaukee’s Scalerator program that focuses on growing established businesses with revenue more than $1 million. The curricula for Scalerator and SPARC address three business areas: sales, finance and organization development.

JPMorgan Chase donated more than $50,000 to launch SPARC. The program is run with the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation.

Elmer Moore, executive director of Scale Up Milwaukee, said all the partners recognize the effects growing businesses can have on the city.

More than 40 Milwaukee companies have gone through the Scalerator program. On average, a company grows 33% during the program, Moore said. Milwaukee bicycle company Fyxation and marketing firm Red Brown Kle’ are both graduates of the six-month Scalerator program.