Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union Announces Idea Leap Grant Finalists

  • Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union announces the Fourth Annual Idea Leap Grant finalists for 2021. 

“We congratulate these five small businesses who have advanced to Idea Leap Grant finalists,” said Tommy Nix, vice president of business and commercial services. “These five finalists will all receive grant funds from TVFCU during Startup Week Chattanooga. The Oct. 19 pitch competition will help determine who will win $21K in 2021.” 

In early September, TVFCU invited the community to help select one of the five finalists. Community members were encouraged to vote for their favorite Idea Leap Grant semifinalist. Ten small businesses were part of the text-voting campaign. Chatt Taste Food Tour received the most votes and was named the People’s Choice finalist. An independent panel of volunteer community judges selected the other four finalists.

Dionne Jenkins, vice president of diversity and inclusion at Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, leads the judging committee. Judges include:

Vickye Bone, vice president, Urban League of Greater Chattanooga
Jennie DeCook, director, Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Cleveland State Community College
Emily Gilliam, credit analyst, Brightbridge Capital
Charles Fisher, partner/director, Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison, P.C.
Diane Parks, retired director of Leadership Chattanooga, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
Danielle Landrum, co-owner of Locals Only Gifts and Goods, 2020 Idea Leap Grant Winner & 2021 Celebrity Judge

The 2021 Idea Leap Grant finalists include: 

Champion Christian Learning Academy
Location: Chattanooga
Owner: Cynthia Evans
Established: 2017
Grant Wishes: To purchase furniture, playground equipment and learning curriculum.

Lil Mama's Chicago Style Hoagy
Location: Chattanooga
Owner: Tiffany Pauldon-Banks
Established: 2019
Grant Wishes: To invest in continued staff training, marketing, catering and new equipment.

Salon Posh
Location: Athens, Tn.
Owner: Allison Stiller
Established: 2018
Grant Wishes: To expand salon creating a space for continued education for license professionals, as well as adding manicure tables, pedicure chairs and treatment rooms so that we can offer more services.

Wild Violet Permaculture, LLC
Location: Signal Mountain
Owners: Nathaniel Bankhead and Bryant Hawkins
Established: 2020
Grant Wishes: To use the grant monies for three different objectives. First, we need to create comprehensive training programs and materials for both our employees and clients. Secondly, we need to invest in our future native plant nursery on Signal Mountain. Thirdly, we want to scale our compost production and distribution program. 

People’s Choice Finalist
Chatt Taste Food Tours, LLC
Location: Chattanooga
Owner: Briana Garza
Established: 2019
Grant Wishes: To build out the region's first electric mobile dining car, an elevated dining room on wheels. 

The next step is TVFCU’s Idea Leap Grant Pitch Competition, which will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 19, during Startup Week Chattanooga. Each finalist will have up to five minutes to pitch their business detailing why they are deserving of the grant. A brief socially-distant Q&A session with judges will follow each presentation. Once all the presentations are complete, the judges will deliberate and evaluate the finalists according to a set of assessment criteria. The winners will then receive one of five grants valued at $21,000, $15,000, $10,000, $7,000 and $5,000. 

TVFCU is closely monitoring the COVID-19 surge. For the health and wellbeing of all involved, TVFCU may have to pivot from an in-person, outdoor event to a virtual event. Follow TVFCU on social media for the latest competition details. 

The Idea Leap Grant is an extension of the credit union’s Idea Leap Loan Initiative that was created specifically for small businesses in 2016. To date, TVFCU has funded more than $3.8 million in loans to emerging and early-stage businesses through the loan initiative. Furthermore, TVFCU has awarded more than $125,000 in Idea Leap Grants. 

For more information about the Idea Leap Grant, please visit tvfcu.com/IdeaLeapGrant

Latest Headlines
Business/Government
Rain Barrel Distribution Day Will Be May 4
  • 3/18/2024

The Chattanooga Stormwater Division announces its annual Rain Barrel Distribution Day will take place on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Development Resource Center, 1250 Market St. ... more

February Tennessee Revenues Were Less Than Budget Estimates
  • 3/18/2024

Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson on Monday announced that February revenues were less than budgeted estimates. Overall February state revenues were $1.325 ... more

WCSO To Hold Awards And Recognition Ceremony March 20
  • 3/18/2024

The Walker County Sheriff’s Office will have an awards and recognition ceremony on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Walker County Civic Center, 10052 N. Highway 27 in Rock Spring. Civilian ... more