NORTHAMPTON — A $50,000 grant has been awarded to The Sphere Northampton to launch the Sphere Westfield Mindshift Business Accelerator, an intensive business development program designed to support low-to moderate-income entrepreneurs in the Westfield community.
The Sphere Northampton is a nonprofit organization that supports entrepreneurs in Western Mass. by providing educational resources, professional trainings, networking events and more. This grant will enable The Sphere to expand its proven accelerator model to a city ready for growth and entrepreneurial momentum. This funding was awarded through the Westfield Community Development Block Grant program.
“We’re thrilled and deeply grateful to receive this funding through the Westfield Community Development Block Grant program,” said Dr. Megan Allen, co-founder and board chair of The Sphere Northampton. “This award affirms the importance of access to business education and resources, as well as the importance of supporting these entrepreneurs across the Pioneer Valley. It’s a powerful investment not just in The Sphere’s work, but in the entrepreneurs of Westfield who are ready to build something meaningful for themselves, their families and their community.”
The Sphere Westfield Mindshift Business Accelerator will serve 10 local entrepreneurs directly through a robust eight-week training program that combines structured business education, individualized coaching and access to essential professional services such as financial advising, branding and legal support.
In addition, the program’s outreach events and community-based workshops will reach and uplift more individuals across Westfield’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“Westfield is full of untapped talent and potential,” said Allen. “This funding allows us to offer the kind of comprehensive, high-touch support that LMI [low-to-moderate income] entrepreneurs need to not only survive, but thrive. We’re investing in the people who are ready to build the future of their community.”
With nearly half of Westfield households qualifying as low-income and a downtown core made up of economically disadvantaged census tract, the city faces unique challenges, but holds great promise in the eyes of The Sphere team. Many aspiring entrepreneurs in the region face barriers such as limited access to mentorship, funding and technical expertise. The Sphere’s program is specifically designed to break down those barriers.
Every participant of the accelerator program will receive eight weeks of business planning, marketing and financial training, one-on-one coaching and customized goal setting, a three-month subscription to LIVEPLAN business software, financial stipends up to $1,900 per participant for local professional services, and three months of post-program support and mentorship.
In addition to individual support, the grant also funds community-wide programming such as office hours, skill-building workshops and networking events. These events will offer Westfield residents access to financial literacy education, peer support and real-time guidance from local experts.
“We’ve seen firsthand how powerful this model can be,” said Allen. “By embedding support, mentoring and funding into a single experience — and making it accessible to those who need it most — we’re creating real pathways to sustainable business growth.”
This program builds on the success of the Blueprint for Business Accelerator series developed by Dee Dice and Kasey Corsello, which has supported over 30 small business owners in past Westfield cohorts. The Mindshift rebranding represents an expanded and enhanced curriculum, one that integrates entrepreneurial mindset work, leadership development and emotional resilience alongside technical training. Dice and Corsello will be coaching this accelerator as well.
“One of the most valuable resources this program offers — beyond practical business training — is the ability to navigate uncertainty with confidence,” said Corsello. “Entrepreneurship is full of unknowns, especially for those from underrepresented groups who may not have access to traditional support systems. Mindshift provides not only essential tools like financial planning, marketing and leadership development, but also a supportive environment where entrepreneurs can build real relationships — with mentors, peers, and community partners — that help them face challenges they can’t always predict.”
Corsello added that this focus on connection and resilience makes a huge difference as entrepreneurs grow through the program, as when people feel and see a working support system they approach risk and uncertainty differently. Over previous iterations of the program, Corsello said the biggest shift she sees during it is entrepreneur’s growth in confidence.
“I know the program’s working when people start speaking up more, asking bold questions and giving thoughtful feedback to others. When someone says, ‘I finally launched my website,’ or pitches their idea without hesitation, it’s proof they’re stepping into their power as business owners,” said Corsello.
The program will begin recruitment later this summer or early fall, with training to launch in November. Interested entrepreneurs and community partners can learn more at spherenorthampton.com.
Corsello added that the ripple effect from this program is seen firsthand in communities as local business owners can grow and improve for their own business and the local economy of the community they are in.
“The ripple effect is huge. When just one entrepreneur leaves this program with confidence, skills and a network, they don’t keep that to themselves. They bring it back to their family, their neighbors, and their customers. They hire locally, support other small businesses and inspire others who see them and think, maybe I can do that too,” said Corsello. “It’s about breaking down the barriers that have kept so many people on the sidelines and opening the doors for more people to dream bigger and actually build what they imagine.”
Allen added much credit and thanks to Dice and Corsello, Sphere community members who are leading the accelerator work. She said a program like this and its success is a result of the years of grassroots work and listening deeply to the needs of entrepreneurs — especially women, nonbinary individuals and those from underrepresented communities.
“Our mission is to create inclusive, locally rooted ecosystems where entrepreneurs can thrive. Through past versions of the Blueprint for Business Accelerator with Kasey Corsello and Dee Dice and their ongoing presence in neighboring cities, we’ve built trust, demonstrated impact, and developed the kind of community-based infrastructure that this grant directly supports. It’s a natural — and exciting — next step in our journey,” said Allen.
Participants will receive structured business training, personalized coaching, financial stipends to access legal, accounting, marketing support and follow-up mentorship. Beyond the cohort itself, this program will bring free workshops, networking events and office hours to the broader Westfield business community.
“The impact will ripple far beyond the 10 direct participants — this is about planting seeds of long-term, sustainable economic growth,” shared Allen. “Being able to offer this program in Westfield is both a responsibility and an honor. We know that entrepreneurship can be a powerful path to economic stability, but too often, it’s a path filled with barriers for those without traditional access to capital, mentorship, or professional support. We are eager to help eliminate those barriers for underrepresented entrepreneurs across the Pioneer Valley, including Westfield. This accelerator allows us to show what’s possible when those barriers are removed. It’s not just about teaching business skills — it’s about shifting mindsets, building confidence and surrounding entrepreneurs with a support system that truly sees and uplifts them. That’s at the heart of everything we do at The Sphere.”
