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Fresno Pacific University’s Center for Community Transformation (CCT) recently organized an event which saw more than $20,000 in start-up funds and support awarded to four local entrepreneurs.

The 10th Spark Tank presentation and fourth Microbusiness EXPO, which took place on the main FPU campus last week, saw the Inclusion Learning Center, Mommy’s Helper, Project Board Game and Veterans Network each awarded funds to support their organizations.

The $12,000 award presented to Inclusion Learning Center was the largest award given in the history of the event, with Mommy’s Helper and Project Board Game each receiving $3,000, and Veterans Network presented with $2,500.

“The Spark Tank EXPO encourages social enterprises, which use business principles to address community issues,” according to an FPU news release. “Participants are entrepreneurs whose innovations focus on people and the planet as well as profit.”

Spark Tank has assisted 61 social enterprises providing $185,000 in awards and generating $7M since 2016.

Of the social enterprise groups mentioned, 51% are minority owned, with 54% women owned.

Eligible enterprises must have financially profitable revenue streams as well as a measurable strategic social impact.

A number of local community partners provided sponsorships including Beneficial State Bank, Cen-Cal Business Finance Group, Producers Dairy, Tagua, as well as several FPU-based groups. The Lilly Foundation also provided support for the event.

The university’s CCT works to connect the strength of FPU with local resources in an effort to help transform cities.