The SPARK Act (Strengthening Place-based Access, Resources, and Knowledge Act) is designed to help small businesses get off the ground in communities that have been left behind—rural areas, low-income neighborhoods, and places hit hard by economic downturns. The bill recognizes a real problem: minority-owned businesses are twice as likely to be denied loans, women and minority entrepreneurs get a tiny fraction of venture capital funding, and rural areas get almost nothing. The law creates a new federal program that gives money to organizations like nonprofits, community colleges, and community development banks to run business incubators and accelerators in underserved areas. These organizations will provide free mentoring, counseling, and structured support to help new and growing businesses succeed. The program focuses on helping women, minorities, veterans, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated individuals, and rural entrepreneurs. Organizations that receive funding can't charge fees to the businesses they help, and they can't directly give money to businesses—instead, they connect entrepreneurs with investors and lenders. The Small Business Administration will oversee the program, approve funding for five-year projects that can be renewed for three more years, and track how well these organizations are helping businesses grow and create jobs.