Community Quick Links

Connect to support and networks that help for communities, local organizations, and partners who want to help small and underutilized businesses, microenterprises and aspiring entrepreneurs thrive.

• Agricenter International (o) – the world’s largest urban agricultural research and education facility
• AgLaunch (o) – connect entrepreneurs with farmers to co-develop cutting-edge solutions
• Appalachia Funders Network (o) – seeks to accelerate an equitable Appalachian transition by convening and connecting funders for learning, analysis, and collaboration.
• Aspen Institute (o) – is an educational and policy studies organization
• Association for Enterprise Opportunity/AEO (o) - national membership organization and voice of microbusiness development in the United States
• Center for Rural Entrepreneurship (o) – helps community leaders build a prosperous future by supporting and empowering business, social and civic entrepreneurs
• Craft Emergency Relief Fund/CERF+ (o) – emergency resources for artists, including grants
• e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (o) – helps community leaders build a prosperous future by supporting and empowering business, social and civic entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurs' Organization/EO (o) – membership based, global business network
  
• Entrepreneruship.org (o) -  entrepreneurship, innovation, education, research and policy
• Forward Cities (o) – A national learning network of cities committed to advancing inclusive innovation and economic development in their communities
• GEW/Global Entrepreneurship Week – the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups
• National Federation of Independent Business/NFIB (o) – membership based, advocacy and resources for small business
• Nonprofit assistance – United Way of Greater Knoxville (East TN), Center for Nonprofit Management (Middle TN), and Tennessee Nonprofit Network (West TN)
• Open IDEO (o) – an open innovation platform
• RUPRI/Rural Policy Research Institute (o) – provides unbiased analysis and information on the challenges, needs, and opportunities facing rural America
• Social Enterprise Alliance (o) – champion for social enterprise in the US
• Your Economy/YE (o) – a source of economic data about business establishments, jobs and sales across the United States

📌 Still can't find it? Try TN SmartStart's resources and organizations. 

What You Really Need to Know 

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about business grants! While some federal grants exist to support small and underutilized businesses, microenterprises and entrepreneurs, very few go directly to individual business owners. Most federal funding flows to nonprofits, government agencies, or educational institutions that, in turn, offer programs, services, or loans to these businesses.

In Tennessee, state incentives focus on job creation and capital investment within certain industry sectors. To qualify, companies must create jobs within a set timeframe and meet investment requirements. These incentives usually come as tax credits or job-training reimbursements—programs that most small businesses don’t qualify for. As a result, loans or self-financing often remain the most practical funding routes (see the TNSmartStart Guide).

Direct grants for small businesses are typically limited to three areas:

• Value-added agriculture
• Technology development and commercialization
• Vocational rehabilitation or veterans’ self-employment programs (state and U.S. Veteran's Affairs) offers self-employment match grants. 

To search for available grants, visit to Grants.gov, a federal database of grants, or here for a mix of state and federal. A few more options have emerged that provide more of the private grant resources like Hello Alice.

📌 Grant tip: Not every “grant opportunity” is real. Avoid sites asking for sensitive data or payment, and stick to official, secure sources. If something seems off, report it right away to law enforcement or a trusted agency.

• SBA (f): Scams and Fraud alerts
• Federal Trade Commission/FTC (f): business alerts, guidance, how to report
• Consumer Affairs (s): business and consumer resources

Your Credit: Your credit matters when it comes to funding for your business. Be sure to know where you stand by checking your credit - Free Annual Credit Report and Credit Repair Kit.

Nonprofits: Many people ask about setting up a nonprofit so they can apply for and receive grants. Nonprofits are not a that simple. Nonprofit assistance – United Way of Greater Knoxville (East TN), CNM, the Center for Nonprofit Management (Middle TN) and Tennessee Nonprofit Network (West TN)

📌 For more funding options, different legal structures, etc., visit TN SmartStart.