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The Messenger

December 7th, 2020

Virtual Events, Programs, and Ways to Connect:

KEC LiftOff at Night (2 spots left!)
Tues, Dec 8th @ 5:30 PM | RSVP >>

Do you know the strength of your social network?
Not the number of followers you have or how many likes your post gets, but the ties you have with fellow entrepreneurs, mentors and others in the startup ecosystem. Join 300 other visionaries, like you, to help researchers at the University of Tennessee and NC State better understand the social networks of our local entrepreneurial ecosystems. To join, go to networkimpact.io and click "Join Study" before December 13th.

This December is Knoxville's First Ever Black Business Month
The Knoxville Black Business Directory invites you to celebrate Knoxville’s first-ever Black Business Month. They encourage you to visit the website, shop with black owned businesses, and interact with them on social media through the hashtag #buyblackknox. SHOP THE DIRECTORY >>

Shora Foundation is Making History - Help them reach their goal!
Shora Foundation has kicked off its peer-to-peer crowdfunding campaign for The Roots Collective Growth and Development Center for small business entrepreneurs in Black communities in Knoxville, TN. Shora is raising money to provide a co-working space, training rooms, a creative space, and a childcare center for entrepreneurs in the East Knoxville community. You can help them reach $500,000 by GIVING and SHARING the campaign with your network today! MORE INFO >>

KEC Launches Made for Knoxville Campaign to Empower Entrepreneurial Community

Knoxville Entrepreneur Center is excited to launch the new “Made for Knoxville” campaign to elevate awareness of Knoxville’s diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem, and inspire action. The goal is to connect and empower the diverse entrepreneurial community in the Knoxville region — ranging from “solo-preneurs,” makers, growth stage tech companies, investors, and established institutions.

“Made for Knoxville” will shine the light on the big wins, everyday hustles, and ongoing challenges that our entrepreneurial ecosystem faces in unprecedented times.

Calling all Entrepreneurs, Makers, Dreamers, and Doers: What’s your story?
This is an opportunity for small business owners, startups, and community leaders to be part of a multimedia campaign to celebrate the entrepreneurial ecosystem in our region.

Visit madeforknoxville.com to tell your story!

Apply NOW for the next round of Rural Relief Small Business Grants

As part of Rural LISC's continuing commitment to elevate our impact in rural America, OneLISC is inviting small business owners in rural locations across the country to apply for the LISC-Lowe's Rural Relief Small Business Grants program. To find out more about who is eligible, to sign up for updates, and to apply, please visit the LISC website.

Rural LISC is grateful for Lowe’s generous support for rural small businesses. They are committed to the integrity of the grant application process and to the security of applicants’ information. A couple of things to keep in mind:

Valid grant applications are only accepted through the links posted on www.lisc.org
We will never request copies of personal documentation such as driver’s licenses, passports, and/or green cards.
The application is easy to fill out, requiring basic business information – professional grant writing assistance will not increase the chances of selection.

More Info >>

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway from The Social Brand

The 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway is a program organized by The Social Brand. The program will give away thousands of dollars of prizes to small business owners in East Tennessee designed to empower their businesses this holiday season. Any small business owner can enter and entering is easy!

More Information >>

USAF SBIR/STTR Webinars
December 15th + 17th, 10 AM - 12 PM

Things are changing with the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Nowhere are these changes more pronounced than with the U.S. Air Force (USAF) SBIR/STTR program. It works faster, with new approaches designed to help entrepreneurs and researchers explore new opportunities with the U.S. Air Force. Please join us for an informative webinar on the USAF SBIR/STTR program. This webinar will give you a great overview of the USAF program, prepare entrepreneurs, researchers and administrators for opportunities to compete for USAF SBIR/STTR awards. Follow-on webinars tied specifically on USAF solicitations will be held throughout the coming months and 2021.

MORE INFO + RSVP >>

Some Reading:

Local Knoxville Gift Shops to Support this Holiday Season
From Knox.biz
Read Me >>

Is It Time to Rethink Your Business Structure?
From Forbes
Read Me >>

Follow along with us on social media!