An overview of support services available for veteran business owners It begins with an idea. You have a great vision for a business venture, but may not know where to start. Or, you’re already a veteran business owner with big plans to continue growth. Regardless of your status – veteran, service member, National Guard, Reserve,
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Success Story: First Cumberland Properties
Developers partner with Pathway Lending to retain and renovate affordable multifamily housing in Tennessee Nearly 30 years ago, Phil Owen and Robert Trent founded First Cumberland Properties “to provide working families with extraordinary housing.” Now affordable housing industry leaders, Owen and Trent have utilized Pathway Lending’s Tennessee Affordable Multifamily Housing Fund on three projects to
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Success Story: Aenon Auto Recycling & Parts
Business owners prove success runs in the family at Cookeville salvage yard For Leonardo Vazquez, owning an automotive repair company was always the dream. From the age of 12, he’d learned the ropes of automotive body work, and became a master by 15. Working from a home-based garage in Mexico, Leonardo learned that as an
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Ways to Fund Your Business: Bootstrapping
How to bootstrap your business Bootstrapping means starting or growing your business with the resources you already have, without the use of outside funds. Here is a helpful article from Intuit QuickBooks on how to bootstrap a small business. Methods of bootstrapping your business include: -Personal Savings/Debt Many entrepreneurs budget carefully to build up their
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Success Story: The Catering Companies & Bell Mill Mansion
Solar farm at event hall marries lower energy bills and environmental stewardship Tara Plumlee grew up in the food industry – helping at her father’s barbecue restaurant from the age of 13. After trying her hand at owning and operating a restaurant, she started The Catering Companies in Chattanooga to give her a more flexible schedule
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Ways to Fund Your Business: Find an investor
Why investors seek small business owners to invest in and the risks you’ll face If you’ve ever watched Shark Tank, you may think this is how investors operate. While investors are great when looking to fund your small business, typically, it’s difficult to maintain control over the future direction of your business. Investors buy ownership
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How to: Government Contracting for Veteran-Owned Businesses
Government contracting and procurement tips for vetrepreneurs GWACs, IDIQs, T&M – oh my! To a new business owner, these acronyms look like alphabet soup. To government entities, they look like work. But to a veteran business owner competing for a government contract, “GWAC, IDIQ, and T&M” look like opportunity. To start off, the terms, “GWAC,
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Ways to Fund Your Business: Launch a crowdfunding campaign
Explore a modern way to fund your business in crowdfunding Crowdfunding is a newer form of funding that puts some excitement into raising money for new products and/or business ideas. This kind of lending allows for the account creator to gain funds by asking for the support of family, friends, and fans. Websites like Kickstarter.com and
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2017 Annual Report: Expanding Opportunity
Another banner year for regional CDFI Pathway Lending and the businesses we serve 2017 was an incredible year for Pathway Lending, one in which we sought opportunity to help entrepreneurs create wealth and grow jobs at every turn. We’re proud to share our 2017 Annual Report with you. Enjoy stories from just a few of
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Ways to fund your business: Apply for a loan
When and how to use a small business loan to grow your business The bank is the first place many small business owners go for startup capital or a line of credit to grow their business. Before you pursue an online loan or launch a crowdfunding campaign, talk to your personal banker to learn what
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