Coca-Cola and Notre Dame bring poverty alleviation efforts to host cities during the FIFA World Cup 2026

Map titled "Urban Poverty and Business Initiative" showing Notre Dame's connections to 59 US cities and international partners. — Notre Dame's connections to 59 U.S. cities and international partners through the Urban Poverty and Business Initiative.

When the kick off this week, bringing global attention to cities across North America, communities from Boston and Miami to Toronto, Dallas and Los Angeles will come together for one of the world鈥檚 largest sporting events.

In these same cities, the University of Notre Dame鈥檚 , a program aimed at helping underrepresented populations create and grow independent businesses, is working with local partners to strengthen small business ecosystems. Propelled by a recent gift from The Coca-Cola Company in North America, Notre Dame has expanded its UPBI network into a total of 59 cities, including a strategic activation in 鈥� 11 in the United States and two in Canada.

Notre Dame and Coca-Cola hope that their partnership will lead to a permanent and sustainable economic legacy in those host cities long after the tournament concludes.

Housed within Notre Dame鈥檚 at the , the UPBI program works through a national network of partners including universities and nonprofit organizations to equip and support disadvantaged entrepreneurs seeking financial stability through their own business endeavors.

Three smiling people: two Black women, one with a hairbow and long hair, and one in glasses, and a white man in a blue shirt and red tie. — Michael Morris, creator of the UPBI program, pictured with two entrepreneurs who graduated from the program and launched their own businesses.

Created by , professor of the practice at the Keough 91视频, the UPBI program combines structured business training, consulting, access to capital and shared research to drive economic mobility. As the national convener, Notre Dame coordinates this learning and maintains the research framework, proving that rigorous academic scholarship can, and should, result in measurable poverty alleviation and local job creation.

To date, the UPBI program has served more than 11,000 entrepreneurs nationwide, created more than 5,000 jobs and helped launch nearly 4,500 individual businesses, reaching 3,000 entrepreneurs annually and advancing more than 750 ventures toward financial stability each year.

鈥淥ur goal with UPBI is to blend meaningful research with applied, on-the-ground action to assist entrepreneurs with the skills and know-how to help their businesses flourish,鈥� Morris said.

鈥淲e are excited about the UPBI program鈥檚 expansion, but proud of the impact that universities and partner organizations have already made in their communities everywhere. Our partners have a profound commitment to strengthen their local economies; and, together, we hope this work will reinforce long-term economic opportunity 鈥� well beyond any single moment or event.鈥�

Three people at an indoor event: a woman in navy, a smiling man in plaid, and a woman in blue gesturing as they talk. — UPBI guides entrepreneurs through the launch of their business ventures and beyond, including networking events that link UPBI program participants to other local businesses and encourage community members to support them.

The universities who adopt Notre Dame鈥檚 UPBI program will serve as the anchor institution for that locale, proving the public value and relevance of higher education as a vital economic engine for the surrounding neighborhood. Participating institutions deploy faculty expertise, engage students in applied mentoring and provide connection to the broader community 鈥� as well as linking with their community-based organizations to provide a support system for participating entrepreneurs.

To learn more about UPBI鈥檚 work and the impact of this program,

For more information or to join the UPBI network, .

Media Contact: Tracy DeStazio, associate director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu