Need Support for an Existing Business?
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce provides primary support for existing businesses and business expansions.  For a site visit, technical assistance, and other needs contact Steve Hiatt, (423) 763-4333 or shiatt@chattanoogachamber.com.

Links to Business Support
The organizations listed in this section provide services for entrepreneurs, whether they need assistance in researching the market for their ideas or need to learn how to write a professional business plan.  The Tennessee Small Business Development Center is a great place to start because it offers counseling and referals to other resources as well as the Business Resource Center, a library of information for starting and maintaining small businesses.

General Support

• Business Space - Incubator
• Consulting & Mentoring
• Networking
• Bank Financing
• Non-Bank Financing
• Worker Recruitment & Training
• Index of all Services (see below)

Special Programs

• Tax credits - Renewal Community Zone
• Technology Transfer Assistance
• Venture Capital Networking
• Tennessee Venture Forum
• Governmental Procurement Contacts

Organization	Who they serve	Service Provided
AmSouth Bank	Established and potential business owners.	Provides retail and commecial lending, SBA loans, credit cards, and lines of credit.
Business Incubator - Chattanooga/Hamilton County Business Development Center	Businesses in first year of operation, either full or part time whether service or light manufacturing, but not retail by application.	Provides office or manufacturing space, shared support services (clerical, fax, photocopy) and conference rooms. More >>
Center for Entrepreneurial Growth	Technology-based start-ups that have been accepted into the program.	A range of busines assistance including mentoring, consulting, access to debt and equity capital, and business incubation facilities.
Chattanooga State Business and Community Development Center	Local companies seeking employee assessments, job analysis, and skill training for employees.	Occupational skills training as well as a range of technical and managerial traning programs.
Chattanooga Area Chamber - Small Business Council	Small business owners	Networking, small business advocacy
Cornerstone Community Bank	Established business owners	Provides small business checking, refinancing, and startup facilities such as lines of credit.
First Tennessee Bank	Established and potential business owners.	Provides retail and commecial lending, SBA loans, credit cards, and lines of credit.
First Volunteer bank	Established and potential business owners.	Provides retail and commecial lending, SBA loans, credit cards, receivables financing, and lines of credit.
FSG Bank	Established and potential business owners.	Provides retail and commecial lending, SBA loans, credit cards, Business Manager Accounts receivable financing, and lines of credit.
Martin Luther King Community Development Corporation	Established and potential business owners on Martin Luther King Boulevard and surrounding area.	Community economic development activities focused on revitalizing the Martin Luther King Boulevard area.
SCORE - Service Corps of Retired Executives	Established and potential business owners.	Business counseling, consulting, and mentoring.
Southeast Community Capital	Small businesses including minority-owned, woman-owned, early-stage, and start ups.	Small business loans.
Southeast Local Development Corporation	Established and start-up business owners	Small business loans.
Southeast Women's Business Center	Primarily women entrepreneurs, but open to any person who has an established business or would like to start a new business.	Business counseling and training as well as small business loans.
Success by Design	Economically and socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs.	Teaches entrepreneurship skills, construction industry trades, and professional soft skills.
SunTrust Bank	Established and potential busines owners.	Provides retail and commercial lending, SBA loans, lines of credit and credit cards, plus special depository; PC banking and cash management services specifically oriented to small business.
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development	Established businesses.	Provides infrastructure assistance for water and sewar lines and rail line extensions.  Also provides some site preparation assistance, industrial training programs, and loan assistance for qualified applicants.
Tennessee Minority Supplier Development Council	Economically and socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs.	Non-profit membership organization that encourages corporations to develop and implement supplier diversity programs.  Also provides training for members.
Tennessee Office of Minority Business Enterprise	Potential and established minority business owners and minority contractors.	Provides consulting and training services as well as a "Plan Room" for minority contractors to review specifications for construction job for bid.
Tennessee Rural Opportunity Fund	Established and potential business owners.	Businesses unable to access traditional credit due to lack of collateral, poor credit scores, inconsistent earnings, and being identified as a start-up business.
Tennessee Small Business Development Center	Entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses	Provides business planning and management consulting.  Also sponsors seminars, provides networking opportunities, and refers clients to other resource organizations.
TVA Economic Development Loan Fund	New and expanding industrial companies.	Revolving loan program for purchase of fixed assets susch as buildings, machinery, and equipment.
TVA Minority Business Development Loan Fund	Economically and socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs.	Provides loans to promote growth and expansion of minority-owned businesses.
TVA Valley Coalition for Minority Development	Economically and socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs.	Provides loans to promote growth and expansion of minority-owned businesses.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga	Established and potential business owners.	Provides management consulting on all aspects of operating a business.
Urban League of Greater Chattanooga	African American employers and employees.	Provides a range of services including PC based courses to meet job requirements of contracting companies as well as job readiness counseling.
Valley Capital Corporation	Economically and socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs.	Provides financing and loans.