This program provides sound business assistance while connecting companies with a variety of financial, technological, planning, marketing and job training resources. Local information available on the Oak Ridge community includes relocation data, available land and building database, local incentives and lists of local businesses.

Resources

State of Tennessee

FastTrack Job Training Assistance is available for new and existing businesses and industry as an incentive by the State of Tennessee when associated with new investment for facilities, equipment and new job hires. Training can be:

• Pre-employment and post-employment
• Classroom and on-the-job

FastTrack Infrastructure Development Program funds may be used for private sector committed projects that will locate or expand in the state and to create or retain jobs for Tennesseans. Eligible activities are:

• Water systems
• Wastewater systems
• Transportation systems
• Site improvements

Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership (TMEP) assists manufacturing firms by providing engineers and scientists from NASA, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and public and private universities and colleges to address problems and support industry through the application of technology.

The Business Enterprise Resource Office (BERO) provides technical, financial and management information assistance to small, minority and women-owned businesses. BERO focuses on four main areas of development to achieve its mission:

• Providing technical assistance (business planning, licensing, certification, financial assistance, expansion assistance and other special needs)
• Assisting with procurement opportunities
• Driving manufacturing initiatives
• Creating export opportunities

Tennessee Valley Authority

The Economic Development Loan Fund (EDLF) is a multimillion-dollar revolving loan program designed to stimulate captial investment and job creation in the TVA region. EDLF loans are made available to companies for fixed asset purposes such as plant expansion and equipment purchase. Special emphasis and consideration are given to minority and woman-owned companies and to companies within targeted industrial sectors.

Small Manufacturing Credit – This option helps small manufacturers remain viable by offering credits when demand for a month exceeds 1,000kW.

Enhanced Growth Credit – Substantial credits on power bills may be available to companies expanding in the Tennessee Valley. Eligibility is determined by SIC code, type of power used and kilowatt usage.

Engineering and Design Services

• Site evaluations
• Land developed plans
• Architectural renderings and schematics
• Project reviews

Economic Analysis and Market Research

• Market research and industry reports
• Comparative advantage analysis
• Minority demographic and economic analysis

Minority Business Assistance
Valley Coalition for Business Development – The Valley Coalition is an alliance formed by TVA and Tennessee Valley financial institutions to increase access to capital and resources for small, disadvantaged and minority businesses in the Valley.

Small Business Development Center

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) administers the Small Business Development Center program to provide management assistance to current and prospective small busines owners.

Located at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, the Oak Ridge Small Business Development Center (ORSBDC) offers seminars and workshops on starting a business, marketing and other subjects of interest. For more information about ORSBDC, please visit the Small Business Development Center section of our web site.

Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board

The Industrial Development Board is the catalyst for shaping the City of Oak Ridge's economy. With economic, social and technical change calling for flexibility and adaptation, the IDB has equipped itself to be a driving force for a thriving city, aggressively establishing an array of business assistance programs that serve as a vehicle for job creation, retention and new investment.

Technology 2020

The Technology 2020 project was initiated in 1993 to capitalize on the unique resources of the East Tennessee region: the presence of the Oak Ridge National Lab, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, the headquarters of the Tennessee Valley Authority and a signifcant number of both large and small information technology companies in the region.

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