Fund Tennessee (SSBCI)
Fund Tennessee connects business owners and entrepreneurs with the right resources at the right time.
Fund Tennessee supports and expands an inclusive continuum of access to capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout Tennessee.
The U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) is administering a second installment of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) as part of the American Jobs Plan. SSBCI 1.0 was passed in 2010 and ran from 2011 to 2017. For SSBCI 2.0, Treasury has allocated $10 billion to provide funding for (1) small business financing, and (2) technical assistance to help small and diverse businesses become capital ready.
Tennessee's SSBCI program, called Fund Tennessee, is comprised of InvestTN, the equity component, LendTN, the debt program, and AssistTN, encompasses the technical assistance component. Fund Tennessee launched in mid-2023 is currently deploying dollars and technical assistance throughout the state. To learn more about Fund Tennessee visit the website here.
Note: We encourage those interested in Fund Tennessee (SSBCI) to visit Fund Tennessee and to sign up for TNECD’s weekly newsletter for upcoming opportunities.
Funding Categories | U.S. Allocation | TN Allocation | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Allocation | $6 billion | $60,573,813 | Based on 2020 unemployment figures |
| Technical Assistance | $500 million | $3,848,992 | Could be before or after loan or equity infusion, general assistance; to be allocated as a separate grant |
| Microenterprises (Very Small Businesses) | $500 million | $4,816,620 | Businesses with fewer than 10 employees |
| SEDI Business Allocation | $1.5 billion | $33,612,467 | Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Businesses (SEDI) |
| SEDI Business Incentives | $1 billion | $17,926,649 | Performance-based |
| Tribal Governments | $500 million | N/A | Tennessee does not have any tribal governments |
Total: | $10 billion | $116,929,549 |
|
Find a full list of allocations here.
Current status: Deploying funds statewide
Fund Tennessee Tennessee's application was submitted February 11, 2022 and final approval was announced by Treasury on February 27, 2023. For updates on this and other programs, sign-up for the TNECD newsletter.
LendTN — Provides access to borrowed funds to be paid back with interest to a lender. Ideal for small businesses registered in TN
- Current lenders are posted on the Fund Tennessee website
- The Intent to Participate submission period for non-depository CDFIs and MDIs is open from October 30 to December 4, 2026. The Intent to Participate: Q&A Session (Round 3) is virtual on November 17, 2026, at 9:30a CT/10:30a ET. Interested potential LendTN lenders may register here.
- The Intent to Participate submission period for Tranche 2 was April 1 to April 30, 2025.
InvestTN — Provides access to funds in exchange for a percentage ownership in the business. Ideal for early-stage startups and entrepreneurs
- Visit the Fund Tennessee website to learn about accessing equity investments through the Regional Seed or Growth Funds.
AssistTN — Provides access to non-monetary resources in the form of financial advisory, legal, and accounting assistance. Ideal for businesses looking to get capital ready
- The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) is the designated Technical Assistance (TA) partner for the SSBCI Capital Access Program.
- The Tri-Star Angel Program, or TAP, is an angel capital training program for Tennessee’s potential investors and businesses to prepare to receive angel capital. TAP launched in fall 2024.
If you are a future, new, or existing small or underutilized business owner or entrepreneur looking for more resources, visit the BERO website and/or TN SmartStart to get your personalized list of resources, build your own business model canvas, or locate resources near you.
Contact Information
Website: Fund Tennessee
Phone: (615) 741-1888
Email: ecd.SSBCI2.0@tn.gov
updated: October 28, 2026