Tennessee Valley Authority Economic Development
Business Incubation
Business incubators are facilities designed to help new businesses get started by providing affordable rental space, onsite support services, and technical assistance (including financial and legal advice) in a unique environment that fosters growth.
An incubator manager is available at most sites to help tenants with their business planning. Tenants also have access to resources that provide management, marketing, accounting, financial, and legal assistance.
Firms housed in TVA-supported business incubators can apply for loans from TVA’s Business Incubator Tenant Loan Fund, a revolving fund capitalized at $500,000 that is designed to help young businesses meet their short-term capital needs. The maximum loan amount is $25,000, for a term of one year. A loan request must be supported by purchase orders, invoices, or accounts receivable.
View a map of TVA-supported incubators (PDF, 309 kb).
Incubators Provide More Than Just Office Space
This reprint from Business Tennessee (Nov. 2005) tells how TVA-supported incubators help improve a young company's chance for success.
National Business Incubation Association
NBIA provides professionals with the information, education, advocacy, and networking resources for assisting early-stage companies.