LAUNCH Chattanooga, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting underserved entrepreneurs, has partnered with Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU) to bolster Chattanooga’s small business community while also hosting enjoyable lunchtime events.
As part of this collaboration, food truck owners from LAUNCH’s Kitchen Incubator of Chattanooga (KIC) will be serving lunch at various TVFCU branches over the next few months.
KIC is a startup facility that offers affordable space and access to quality equipment to emerging caterers, bakers, distributors, and food truck owners. These events provide an opportunity for anyone to purchase a wide range of delicious meals, desserts, and specialty products from local startups.
“LAUNCH and the KIC exist to connect underrepresented entrepreneurs with life-changing resources and training. As we help small business owners in the food service industry find growth and success, we are thankful for TVFCU’s support in helping these talented chefs connect with the public,” DeJuan Jordon, co-CEO of LAUNCH says.
Food Truck Fridays at TVFCU branches are set to begin on June 30 and continue on the second and fourth Friday of each month.
LAUNCH is hosting Food Truck Friday events at the KIC’s Eastgate headquarters, on the first and third Friday of each month. These events showcase a diverse selection of vendors offering a wide range of meals, beverages and desserts.
“This is our second year extending LAUNCH’s excellent Food Truck Friday events to our branches,” Marcus Cade-Johnson, TVFCU business lender and LAUNCH board member says.
“These events present a unique opportunity to support some incredible local entrepreneurs while also providing a fun experience for our members and the community.”
TVFCU’s collaboration with LAUNCH is part of its broader commitment to supporting the local business ecosystem within its 17-county service area. The credit union’s Idea Leap Loan program, for instance, offers affordable, accessible, and efficient loans to entrepreneurs. Additionally, the annual Idea Leap Grant empowers small business owners to apply for grants of up to $50,000.
To date, TVFCU has provided over $5 million in Idea Leap Loans to approximately 170 unique businesses, along with awarding over $485,000 in Idea Leap Grants and related scholarships.
Learn more about TVFCU, here.
Learn more about LAUNCH Chattanooga, here.
Read about KIC entrepreneurs, here.
