Women’s Business Center Celebrates 20 Years of Empowering Entrepreneurs with a New Strategic Vision & Start Up Grant Winner

BENTON HARBOR, Mich., (October 7, 2024) – The Women’s Business Center (WBC) at Cornerstone Alliance proudly celebrated its 20th anniversary on October 3rd at the beautiful Sunrise Farms Venue. This milestone event brought together a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, exhibitors, and sponsors, all united in their commitment to supporting women in business. 

During the celebration, the WBC team, including Brandy Jaquez, Director, and Chrissy Meek, Manager, announced an exciting shift in strategy, refocusing on its core mission of empowering women entrepreneurs and addressing the growing needs in a sector where women are leading the charge. With 90% of their clients being women and 50% representing minority groups, the organization sees a significant opportunity to tailor its approach and drive impactful results by aligning efforts with the unique needs and aspirations of these entrepreneurs.

The WBC unveiled its new mission, vision, and values:

MISSION: To empower women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds with opportunities to achieve financial independence within Southwest Michigan.

VISION: To be the leading entrepreneurial service creating a powerful, inclusive community of woman-owned small businesses that drive economic impact in Cass, Berrien, and Van Buren counties.

The WBC’s six core values—Empowerment, Trust, Collaboration, Inclusivity, Creative Solutions, and Accountability—will guide the organization as it strives to fulfill this mission.

Looking ahead, the WBC will adopt a new approach that prioritizes women-owned businesses. The organization is committed to dismantling barriers faced by women entrepreneurs, including improving access to funding, providing tailored technical assistance, offering mentorship and networking opportunities, celebrating successes, and facilitating transitions from in-home to out-of-home business operations. A notable initiative includes a new programming plan for Cass County, set to offer dedicated training and events in 2025.

Brandy Jaquez, Director of the Women’s Business Center, stated, “As we celebrate two decades of empowering women, we are more committed than ever to being their biggest champions. Our new strategy will ensure that we meet the evolving needs of our clients and create lasting economic impact in our communities.”

Additionally, the organization recognized its exceptional Start Up grant finalists, including Diamond London of Diamond’s Tidy Cleaning Services, Tara Kelley of The Dirty Baker, Debby Uhrik of Isabella Grace LLC, and Ted Simpson of RV Trading Post. Guests had the opportunity to vote for their favorite business after listening to each finalist’s pitch. The WBC is excited to announce the grant winner who was selected by the audience was Tara Kelley from The Dirty Baker.

Tara is a master baker who turned to baking as a therapeutic outlet after over 30 years of experience as a mother, grandmother, and daycare provider. Her mission is to spread joy through homemade cookies, cake balls, and cupcakes, including custom creations made possible by her new edible printer. She has transformed a 1966 tagalong trailer into a mobile dessert shop, ready to cater to events and special occasions.

Tara plans to invest her winnings into marketing efforts to expand her reach within the community and beyond. She truly embodies the spirit of “baking” a difference through her craft.

The WBC also expressed heartfelt gratitude to its sponsors who made the celebration possible: The Dirty Baker, Twist & Stout, NS Cosmetics, Goddess of the Moon Leatherworks, Lazy Ballerina, Owen & CO, Sunrise Farms, Syncovate, Juniper Marketing, Kinexus, Classic Catering, and 1st Source. Their support has been invaluable to the mission of the WBC.

Thank you to everyone who joined in celebrating this significant milestone. Together, the Women’s Business Center is building a brighter future for women in business.

For more information about the Women’s Business Center and its programs, please visit www.cornerstonewbc.com. Be sure to follow us on Facebook at Women’s Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance, and on Instagram at wbc_cornerstone. 

About Cornerstone Alliance: Cornerstone Alliance is the leading economic development organization dedicated to fostering growth and prosperity in Michigan’s Great Southwest. Through strategic initiatives and collaborative partnerships, Cornerstone Alliance drives innovation and opportunity, positioning the region for sustainable economic success. As the leading advocate for the local business and development sector, Cornerstone Alliance delivers tailored business assistance across Berrien County.