LendTN

How are LendTN and Fund Tennessee related?

LendTN is made possible by Fund Tennessee – $117 million in federal funding for Tennessee as part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s SSBCI (State Small Business and Credit Initiative) program. LendTN is a $47M debt (loan) program administered by CDFIs in Tennessee.

What does LendTN do?

LendTN assists new and existing Tennessee small businesses and entrepreneurs that need funds, from entering the market to loans that help to stabilize, pivot, expand, or re-start.

How do I apply for LendTN funds?

LendTN is powered by Participant Lenders that are CDFIs. That means they play an important role in Tennessee’s small business and entrepreneurship community. The Participant Lenders offer a wide variety of lending options and programs for different purposes from getting started to purchasing equipment to opening your next location. Visit one of our Participant Lenders above to review lending options and start your application process.

When is the deadline to apply for funds?

There is no fixed deadline to apply at this time. Participant Lenders are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis.

How long does it take to get a loan?

Each Participant Lender has its own processes, so it will depend on the type, use, and amount of the loan.

Is there a minimum or maximum amount for a qualified loan?

No and yes. Participant Lenders have different minimum and maximum loan amounts. However, with this funding, a business may receive up to $5 million in SSBCI dollars and no project may exceed a total of $20 million.

What is an eligible (and ineligible) use for a loan?

Eligible: Includes but is not limited to, equipment, working capital, real estate, and new businesses. Ineligible: Businesses that partake in speculative activities (oil, stock trading, etc.), companies that earn more than half its revenue from lending activities, pyramid sales, activities prohibited by federal law (such as cannabis/marijuana), and gaming/gambling activities.

How is Tennessee-located defined?

“Tennessee Business” means a business that is registered to do business in Tennessee as:

• A sole proprietor or general partnership registered with its respective Municipal and/or County Clerk and the Tennessee Department of Revenue, as required; or
• A corporate entity with the Tennessee Secretary of State and 51% of its employees are domiciled in Tennessee; and either of the following:
• A Headquarters Facility as defined by T.C.A. § 67-6-224; or
• An entity with the majority of its senior management domiciled in Tennessee.

Which certifications are required prior to receiving funding?

All approved loans require SSBCI program certifications. Sample certifications are available here, including Use of Proceeds, Conflict of Interest, Sex Offender, and SEDI-Owned Businesses (as applicable).

Are there any reporting requirements?

Businesses that receive SSBCI funded loans should remain in Tennessee for no less than 24 months and provide updates to their Participant Lenders. The Participant Lenders are required to report data on a quarterly and annual basis. This data is collected and submitted to TNECD for submission to the U.S. Department of the Treasury by stated deadlines.

What do I need to know about SSBCI Conflict-of-Interest policies?

A borrower cannot be a/an:

• executive officer, director, or principal shareholder of the lender; or
• member of the immediate family of an executive officer, director, or principal shareholder of the lender; or
• related interest or immediate family member of such an executive officer, director, or principal shareholder of the lender; or
• debarred from doing business with the federal, state, or local governments;
• SSBCI Insider (see the section, Loan/Investment Purpose Requirements and Prohibitions – 12 U.S.C. § 5705(f) starting on page 31); or
• convicted sex offender

What if the Participant Lender says I am ineligible, or my loan is not approved?

Participant Lenders have great resources to either provide next steps for technical assistance to help you directly or connect you to who can. You can also seek technical assistance through AssistTN.