Funding & Support Matches
Tennessee-focused programs spanning grants, loans, incentives, advising, lending, and rural business support. Matches are informational. Always confirm details with the official source.
No-cost business advising, planning help, financial modeling support, and lender-readiness guidance for Tennessee founders and operators.
Support types: Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Book an advising session before applying for funding you do not fully understand yet.
Local counseling, training, and resource-partner guidance for founders and owners who want a nearby place to start.
Support types: Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Enter your ZIP code or search by district office to find nearby help.
TSBDC Memphis Office
Memphis-area advising, training, and local business support through the TSBDC office serving Shelby County.
Support types: Local Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Regional support
Next step: Book consulting or training through the Memphis TSBDC office.
Small-loan guidance for founders who may need modest startup capital for equipment, working capital, or early operating needs.
Support types: Loan Access · Capital Access
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Estimate the smallest realistic amount of capital you actually need first.
Sevierville-area advising and training through the official TSBDC branch serving the Sevier County visitor economy.
Support types: Local Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Regional support
Next step: Use the Sevierville office for local advising or training that fits a visitor-heavy market.
TSBDC Johnson City Office
East Tennessee advising and training through the TSBDC office serving the Tri-Cities regional hub.
Support types: Local Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Regional support
Next step: Use the Johnson City office to get practical advising for the Tri-Cities region.
TSBDC Cookeville Office
Upper Cumberland advising and training through the TSBDC office serving the Cookeville and Putnam County market.
Support types: Local Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Regional support
Next step: Use the Cookeville office for no-cost advising or training that fits a lean launch plan.
Maryville-area advising and training through the TSBDC location serving the Blount County and foothills market.
Support types: Local Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Regional support
Next step: Use the Maryville office for local advising that fits an outdoor-gateway market.
Federal small-business guidance, training pathways, and Tennessee network referrals that help founders understand loan, mentoring, and support options.
Support types: Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Use SBA resources to understand loan readiness before borrowing.
Step-by-step guidance for planning, launching, funding, and growing a small business.
Support types: Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Use the guide to walk through the basics of planning, launch, and growth.
A statewide community-partner network that helps route founders and owners to the right Tennessee resources at the right time.
Support types: Local Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Statewide support
Next step: Use the community network to find the best local contact for your question.
CDFI and Small Business Lending Support
High-level lending support for founders who may need flexible capital access, borrower coaching, or community-focused loan pathways.
Support types: Loan Access · Borrower Support
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Get basic numbers and intended use of funds ready before lender conversations.
Mentorship and practical startup guidance for business planning, validation, pricing, and early operating decisions.
Support types: Mentoring · Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Use mentoring to pressure-test your first offer and customer plan.
Statewide downtown-revitalization resource for communities and businesses in traditional commercial districts.
Support types: Local Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Statewide support
Next step: Check whether the community has an active Main Street or downtowns program before you count on it.
Training, counseling, and technical assistance for businesses that want to compete for government contracts.
Support types: Procurement Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Use the accelerator to understand contracting basics and registration steps.
Counseling and training network for women entrepreneurs who want hands-on help with starting and growing a business.
Support types: Mentoring · Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Search for the nearest women’s business center and review the local support options.
State business-resource gateway with registration help, SmartStart tools, and links to local and statewide support.
Support types: Local Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Statewide support
Next step: Start with the state business-resource page if you want a broad Tennessee entry point.
High-level guidance for Tennessee business attraction, expansion, infrastructure, and training support tied to larger capital investment and job creation.
Support types: Grant Funding · Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Confirm whether your project is an expansion or relocation scenario.
Rural-focused business development guidance and possible grant support for small businesses and communities in the program's service area.
Support types: Grant Funding · Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Confirm whether the business location qualifies as rural under the provider's rules.
Veteran-oriented business support, guidance, and capital-access pathways for founders or operators with veteran ownership signals.
Support types: Ownership Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Gather any veteran-ownership documentation that may be relevant.
Woman-Owned Business Support Resources
Guidance, readiness support, and networking pathways for founders or operators with woman-owned business signals.
Support types: Ownership Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Clarify whether you need capital, advising, certification help, or network access first.
Minority-Owned Business Support Resources
Guidance, capital-readiness support, and ecosystem referrals for founders or operators with minority-owned business signals.
Support types: Ownership Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Clarify whether the immediate need is advising, lender readiness, or ecosystem introductions.
Hiring, training, reimbursement, and workforce-alignment resources for businesses planning to add or upskill employees.
Support types: Workforce Support · Tax Incentive
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Define the first roles you expect to hire before asking about incentives.
Statewide capital-access and co-investment ecosystem guidance geared toward scalable Tennessee startups and innovation-focused founders.
Support types: Capital Access · Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Clarify whether the concept is a lifestyle business or a growth-oriented startup.
Tax-credit guidance for larger Tennessee projects tied to qualifying investment and meaningful net new job creation.
Support types: Tax Incentive
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Clarify whether the expansion plan includes enough investment and hiring to justify deeper review.
Founder support, ecosystem navigation, and accelerator-network visibility for Tennessee entrepreneurs exploring more scalable concepts.
Support types: Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Decide whether the concept actually needs startup-ecosystem support or simpler local advising.
Local Economic Development Office Resources
Place-specific guidance on local incentives, site information, permitting support, business referrals, and community development resources.
Support types: Local Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Statewide support
Next step: Ask for the best local contact based on your county and project type.
Procurement and Vendor Readiness Support
Vendor-registration, procurement-readiness, and public contracting support for businesses that may sell to institutions or government buyers.
Support types: Procurement Support · Technical Assistance
Official source: Official resource
Next step: Clarify whether your offer could realistically serve government or institutional buyers.