The 8(a) Business Development Program is a business assistance program for small disadvantaged businesses. The 8(a) Program offers a broad scope of assistance to firms that are owned and controlled at least 51% by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
Read more »Minority Owned Business Resources
Contracting Support: SBA’s Small Disadvantaged Business Registry
You do not have to submit an application to SBA for SDB status. To self-represent as an SDB, register your business in the System for Award Management. However, you and your firm must still understand the SBA eligibility criteria for SDBs.
Read more »Federal Government Designations – Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
The Women-Owned Small Business Program is administered by the Small Business Administration. The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program authorizes contracting officers to set aside certain federal contracts for eligible Women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) or Economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses (EDWOSBs).
Read more »Frequently Asked Questions When Seeking Training and Business Assistance
The following list of resources to help you take advantage of the several free counseling and training programs that are available to assist you in starting and growing your business. From low cost business training and free mentoring, selling to government, finding access to capital and expanding your business internationally, these partners can help get
Read more »Governor’s Office of Diversity Business
The Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (Go-DBE) encourages Minority Owned, Woman Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned and Small Business Enterprise firms interested in the state of Tennessee procurement opportunities to register for certification with the Governor’s Office of Diversity Business Enterprise. Learn more about the Governor’s Office of Diversity Business, click here.
Read more »Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)
The HUBZone program provides contracting assistance to companies located in historically underutilized businesses zones as prescribed by the SBA. The primary purpose of the program is to encourage economic development and increase employment in these distressed urban and rural areas.
Read more »Metro Nashville Office of Women & Minority Enterprise
The Procurement Division serves as the Central Contracting Office for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Established by the City Charter, this Division serves approximately 51 departments, agencies, commissions and boards.
Read more »Tennessee Department of Transportation – Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Application
Application to become a certified DBE contractor for the TN Department of Transportation.
Read more »Tennessee Minority Supplier Development Council
The TMSDC works to build business partnerships between minority businesses (suppliers) and major corporations (purchasers). We are affiliated with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) which has a network of more than 15,000 certified minority businesses, 3,500 major corporations, and 37 regional councils nationwide.
Read more »Tennessee Resource Map
Tennessee is home to a number of business advisers and resource providers for existing and new businesses. Pathway Lending has created the following interactive map of our statewide partners to help users find local and regional business resources and advisers.
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Quickbooks BootcampWed May 1 2019, 9:00am CDT - 11:00am CDT
Blue Sky Business Modeling WorkshopThu May 9 2019, 11:00am CDT - 1:00pm CDT
Quickbooks Bootcamp
Blue Sky Business Modeling WorkshopAre you ready to make the federal government your client?
4 simple steps for getting started Government contracts are a big opportunity for small businesses. The federal government allocates at least $5 of every $100 contract dollars to women and minority-owned small businesses each year, according to the Small Business Administration. State and local entities are following suit so that minority and women-owned businesses get
Building Business Relationships: Top Tips To Start Strong In Your New Mentorship
Last week in our series on building business relationships, Taneka and Ashlee’s mentorship story showed us the power of a great mentorship. This week we’re covering the steps you can take to ensure the same success with your mentor by getting off to a strong start. We recently matched our Discover Cohort graduate Kristin Mejia
Building Business Relationships Series: Successful Businesses Have Mentors
Taneka Cole credits her mentor’s motivation and advice with opening the doors to her body-positive bridal shop. Research from the Small Business Administration proves a link between mentoring and small business success. This week, in our third installment of our series on building business relationships, we turn to Taneka’s mentorship story. Taneka Cole wanted