Chattanooga’s TVFCU Announces Semifinalists In Three Idea Leap Grant Competitions
The Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union has announced that 31 small business owners have been named semifinalists in the 7th Annual Idea Leap Grant Competition. Ten small businesses were selected for both the Chattanooga and Northwest Georgia regions, while eleven were selected in the Ocoee region. Entrepreneurs are competing for a total of $225,000 in grants across all three regions.
Exciting Opportunity for Small Businesses
“This year, we were thrilled to see the overwhelming response from small businesses in the credit union’s service area applying for the Idea Leap Grant,” said Tommy Nix, vice president of business and commercial services. “This is only the second year we have held three separate regional competitions and this is the first time we are offering $75,000 in grant awards in each region. This is an exciting opportunity for the businesses selected as semifinalists, and we encourage all entrepreneurs who qualify to apply for the grant next year.”
Regional Grant Awards
Each regional competition will award five grants totaling $75,000, with $30,000 awarded for first place, $15,000 for second place, and $10,000 each for three runners-up. The pitch competitions will coincide with National Small Business Week during the last week of April 2024.
Announcing the Semifinalists
Chattanooga-region semifinalists:
- Blossom and Rhyme
- Creekside Flower Farm, LLC
- Divine Purity Aurapothecary, LLC
- Good Sister Studio
- Humanitees Print & Design
- Pizzeria Cortile
- Poppytons
- Renew Exterior Services
- Southern Soul Yoga
- Ward’s Construction
Northwest Georgia-region semifinalists:
- A Fern and A Feather General Store
- Ada’s Heritage Farm
- Birria Broz
- Broken Horseshoe Vineyard
- Caffeine Addicts
- Cake Addicts
- Dalton Brewing Company
- Dyers Livestock Beef, LLC
- Insane Paintball, LLC
- The 706
Ocoee-region semifinalists:
- Ace Kayak School
- Bakery on Main
- Birdie & Co.
- Burnside Insurance
- Fitted Stitches
- Hiit 10 Fitness
- Ocoee Riverside Farm
- Premier Physical Therapy
- The Alderman Group
- TNFLYCO
- Treehouse Mountain
Public’s Choice Finalist
In the coming weeks, TVFCU will ask for the public’s help in choosing one People’s Choice Finalist in each competition. The Idea Leap Grant, an extension of TVFCU’s Idea Leap Loan Initiative launched in 2016, has funded over $5 million in loans to emerging businesses and $485,500 in Idea Leap Grants and related scholarships.
For more information about the Idea Leap Grant Competition, please visit tvfcu.com/idealeap.
