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.
Read more »
Blue Sky Business Modeling WorkshopThu Feb 21 2019, 11:00am CST - 1:00pm CST
Restorative Entrepreneurship Program: Class 1Thu Feb 21 2019, 6:00pm CST - 8:30pm CST
Blue Sky Business Modeling Workshop
Restorative Entrepreneurship Program: Class 1Help Women-Owned Businesses Break Through Barriers Toward Success
Did you know women own around 40% of all businesses in the United States, yet only receive about 2-3% of venture financing? The reasons aren’t totally clear, but it’s likely due to a mixture of gender disparities in the venture capital world as well as gender biases when it comes to decisions about when and
How to Build Workplace Culture
“Workplace culture” are buzzwords that we tend to hear everywhere these days, but it’s for a good reason. Your culture can truly make or break your business, as it determines the productivity of your employees, quality of work, brand reputation, and many more factors. If you’re just starting to grow your business, you’re in the
January is National Mentoring Month
Recently, I noticed I was having the same conversation with a number of friends and colleagues – “How can I be a mentor? I’m not a small business owner, so what could I even bring to the table?” The answer is: A LOT. Each of us brings something important to the table, and your