Business News/Events

BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO GET PPP LOANS – Deadline to apply March 31, 2021 Nationwide BlackNews.com (January 13, 2021) — The Paycheck Protection Program has reopened with more than $280 billion more in funds, and will initially only be able to community financial institutions that provide funding for small businesses in underserved and…

Proof Incubator Launches Knoxville-area Restaurant Recovery Program  The virtual program, a collaborative effort made possible by numerous Knoxville-area organizations, empowers restaurant owners and operators with the knowledge and resources to maneuver through, and emerge from, the COVID-19 pandemic safely and profitably.  KNOXVILLE, TENN. (December 22, 2020) — Knoxville-area civic and business resource organizations have partnered…

CAPTION: Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs (R) interviewed SEEED Knox Executive Dir. Stan Johnson, for the small business Community Connection series. Community Connection Series Features SEEED Knox. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 2020) — Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs interviewed Stan Johnson, executive director of SEEED Knox, a local non-profit that focuses on creating and sustaining jobs…

Nationwide (BlackNews.com) — Dr. Dionne Mahaffey, founder of Culture Greetings, a woman-led and Black-owned greeting card company, announces the launch of a new print-to-store integration partnership with Walgreens. Through the technology integration with the Walgreens Photo Prints and Store Locator APIs, in addition to the Culture Greetings’ mail-to-recipient delivery option, customers will now have the choice to…

CARES Act Consultants offer free guidance with Marketing, Human Resources, Accounting, and Restaurant Management. Knoxville Small Business Development Center is still teaching. Virtual specialized consulting services in marketing, human resources, accounting, and restaurant management to local businesses at no charge. The Tennessee SBDC by funding through a CARES Act grant. Local business professionals are sharing…

Nationwide — The BOSS Network, in collaboration with JPMorgan Chase and Advancing Black Pathways, will host the Minority Merchant Event series – a 2-day virtual event to educate, empower, and promote Black female founders on Dec 4th and 5th. Black founders receive less than 1 percent of venture capital funds annually and Black women founders account for…

Inspired by “The Greenbook” by Victor Hugo Green’s Negro Motorist Guide, Black travelers can again have a resource that collectively lists Black-owned businesses, neighborhoods, and online communities in every country and connect travelers to black culture, hotels, restaurants, and more around the world.   Nationwide — Martinique Lewis is set to release the #1 Black…

The world’s first 24-hour virtual coworking community with built-in video conferencing has attracted the attention of ABC’s “Shark Tank”, Robert Herjavec, as well as celebrities and influencers seeking an alternative platform to Zoom.   Nationwide (Sept. 30, 2020) — The world’s first 24-hour, global virtual coworking community has announced Kareem Grimes, an actor from the…

Members of the Board of Trustees serve one or two consecutive 4-year terms that begin in January. The application deadline is September 29th. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (September 14, 2020) – Knoxville College is seeking interested persons who are willing to serve in a governance capacity on the Knoxville College Board of Trustees for a minimum 4-year…

The State of Tennessee is issuing business relief payments through the Tennessee Business Relief Program to small businesses for costs incurred as a result of mandatory business closures. It’s worth your time to take a look. The categories of qualifying small businesses have been expanded and may include yours. The list includes mobile food services, beauty…

Monica Smith-Albright, new Director of YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Center. The Phyllis Wheatley Center in East Knoxville is the central facility for all of the YWCA’s youth programs throughout East Tennessee. Smith-Albright will lead the staff in delivering and expanding current programs and services; and in developing additional programs. Before coming to the YWCA, Smith-Albright served as…

Magnolia Ave. restaurants recently down by 3. Knoxville, TN (Aug. 21, 2020) – Potential COVID-19 exposure caused Pizza Palace, at 3132 E. Magnolia Ave., to close early on Thursday. The business posted the following message on its Facebook page: “Due to a possible COVID-19 exposure and out of an abundance of caution, we will be…

Nationwide (July 2020) Companies owned by Black women represent the largest-growing businesses in the U.S. In addition, there are hundreds of organizations that help Black women in America, doing work that directly benefits them. Many of these organizations offer various types of assistance from education to economic development, health, wellness and social justice. In an…

“Sales Spike For 1st Black Woman-Owned Syrup Brand After Aunt Jemima Was Removed From Shelves”  Nationwide (July 2020) – Michele is not new to the industry. She began manufacturing her specialty breakfast syrups in 1984. That same year, Michele secured the top two largest retail chains in the Chicagoland area, which took her out of…

The Temporary Use of Outdoor Seating for Restaurant Dining permit is a way to support local restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic. This temporary permit will give local restaurants a chance to increase capacity and offer additional outdoor space to serve customers onsite. Local restaurants have taken a huge financial hit this year and this is…

CAN YOUR BUSINESS USE UP TO $10,000 THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY BACK? You can apply for a grant – free working capital. The application process is time sensitive. All applications must be submitted by Wednesday, June 17th at 11:59 PM ET. The Truist Foundation  (formerly Suntrust) has committed an additional $25 million philanthropic pledge…

(June 2, 2020) -Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, cabinet members, and the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group announced a new relief program for Tennessee businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tennessee Business Relief Program will direct approximately $200 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Funds through the Department of Revenue directly to small businesses that qualify. “The…

CAPTION: A peek of what’s inside of Discount Wigs, Hair and Beauty Supply store. To see more visit them at 2119 E. Magnolia Ave. in East Knoxville.   By Patricia Williams Discount Wigs & Hair Supply opened about 3 years ago at 2119 E. Magnolia Ave., in the business complex where the Cricket Store and…

The University of Tennessee Knoxville Tyvi Small has been named as the vice chancellor for diversity and engagement at the University of Knoxville. Small will report to the chancellor and serve on the chancellor’s cabinet. Small served as interim in the position for 10 months before becoming permanent in September 2019. “Tyvi has proven himself…

By Patricia Williams KNOXVILLE, TN (May 2020) – East Knoxville eateries are gradually emerging from the coronavirus shutdown, while practicing sanitation, social distancing, limited seating, or drive-up service. For your safety, protective Plexiglas shields have been installed at the customer contact points when ordering and payment at many businesses. Most all close at earlier than…

Knoxville Association of Women Executives Accepting Nominations of Notable Woman for the 2020 Lucy Webb Gibson Award through August 2020. CAPTION: Past recipients of the KAWE Notable Woman Award include Knoxville’s first woman Chief of Police Eve Thomas, the most wins in basketball history Tennessee Lady Vols Head Coach Pat Summitt, 1,098 career wins, the most…

From now until the end of May, no matter what plan you’re on, be assured that you’ll continue to have the smartphone data you need and not be charged for any overages. We’re committed to keeping you connected to those that matter most, and to keeping our network working where and when you need it….

Business Soul food chef added a grocery store to his restaurant to provide healthy and locally sourced foods to a community that is in a food desert. HOUSTON, TX, (April 2020) – Chef Jonny opened Indigo restaurant just two years ago, and it was an immediate success in the area. Rhodes has always wanted to…

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FACT SHEET – ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS TENNESSEE Declaration 16375 (Disaster: TN-00119) Incident: CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) occurring: January 31, 2020 & continuing All counties within the State of Tennessee; the contiguous Alabama counties; contiguous Arkansas counties; Mississippi; the contiguous Georgia counties; the contiguous Kentucky counties; the contiguous Missouri counties; the contiguous Mississippi…

TN Craft Brewers Guild Requests Assistance From Governor Lee. Metropolitan Nashville Beer Permit Board Adopts Emergency Regulations for Delivery and Curbside Service of Beer.   NASHVILLE, TN (March 20, 2020) – The Nashville area has been hard hit with back-to-back natural disasters. Immediately following a devastating tornado on March 2, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was…