TSBDC Cleveland

05/20/2026

Join Brightcrest Media Alliance's Dr. Keel for this great workshop! Click the link to register: https://clients.tsbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=25460017

05/14/2026

Congratulations to Josh Flory of Flory Custom Woodworking for being named Tennessee’s 2026 Rural Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

03/13/2026

03/10/2026

Join us for this amazing workshop with Brightcrest Media Alliance Click the link to register: https://clients.tsbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=25460012

02/26/2026

The George R. Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Cleveland State Community College will host an Emerging Innovators Competition on March 3, 2026.

The event is open to the public and sponsored by the George R. Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Cleveland Bradley Business Incubator, and the Small Business Development Center.

Five students will compete in the fifth annual Emerging Student Innovators Pitch Competition at 12:00pm. First and second place winners will be awarded $2,000 and $1,000 respectively, and the third-place winner will be awarded $500.

Seven new businesses will compete in the fourth annual Emerging Community Innovators Pitch Competition at 5:00pm. First place will receive $7,500; second place will receive $4,000, and third place will receive $1,500.

Pitch finalists are:
Access to Success Learning Co.- Owner Monica Crandell Stone
Blended and Branded- Owners Adrienna Varlack, Tess Varlack, Noelle Allgood, and Glynis Allgood
Math IQ- Owner Jeremy Higdon
Roam Wild LLC - Owner Nichole Vild
ROCKY POPS, LLC- Owners Dee Lancaster and Tammy Lowry
Take Root Studio- Owners Bryson Killian and Canaan Bowling
Trailhead Counseling and Consulting, PLLC- Owner Kristi Rice

Judges for the Emerging Community Innovator Pitch Competition are:
-Dr. Corey Campbell, Cleveland State Vice President for Policy and Strategy
-Jim Fairweather, owner of Fairweather Financial in Monroe County
-Margaret Schenck, founder of United Knitting in Cleveland and an advisory board member of the George R. Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

The pitch competitions are free and open to the public. For more information, visit mycs.cc/entr, call (423) 478-6224 or email [email protected].

02/10/2026

02/10/2026

🎙️ S2E16 now streaming. 🎙️

🪴 From "I have an Idea!" to "I have a Plan!": The Tennessee Small Business Development Centers - State Lead Center and TSBDC Cleveland

Thinking about starting a business—or trying to grow the one you already have? In this episode of Chamber Does Wut?, Tammy sits down with Jennie DeCook, Director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, to break down how the SBDC supports small businesses from idea to expansion. Jennie shares how their no-cost consulting helps entrepreneurs with business plans, funding readiness, market research, and real-world problem solving. They also talk about the Chamber–SBDC Smart Start partnership, common startup mistakes, and why having the right capital and connections can make or break a business. Whether you’re brand new or decades in, this episode is packed with practical insight and encouragement for local business owners and how Chamber membership can help you and your business grow.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qhDNV5iHR5c?si=7NLdtXwJdzFSwsXx

For full episodes: https://bit.ly/CleChamberPodcast

01/30/2026

Congrats to all semifinalists for the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union Idea Leap pitch competition! Heat N Eat, Copperhill Brewery, First Bloom Coffee and Bakery, Fitted Stitches, Bradley Tree Service and Excavating, Quality Cleaning Services, Integrated Solutions of TN, LLC, The Drug Store, Mona & Larry’s “The Store”, Polk Physical Therapy.

12/08/2025

We are so excited for all who made it through to the quarterfinals! The judges have their work cut out for them because these all look like amazing contenders! Our region is well represented! Good luck to all! Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union

11/18/2025

⭐️ First Generation Student Spotlight

Bryson Killian, a Business Management major from Cleveland, TN, is a proud first-generation college student who’s defining her tomorrow through education, entrepreneurship, and community. She is the co-owner of Take Root Studio, located in the Innovation Center on the Cleveland State campus. Take Root’s mission is to cultivate community through wellness, creativity, and herbal care, offering yoga, herbalism, and natural goods in a welcoming, intentional space.

Attending Cleveland State through the TN Reconnect program has lifted financial worries and allowed Bryson to focus on learning. She says CSCC is helping her fill in the knowledge gaps she once felt were missing. Coming from a troubled childhood with little guidance, Bryson admits that it could be isolating- but getting involved on campus and in the community has helped her feel deeply connected.

Her advice to others: “Show up. Show up anxious. Show up nervous. Show up worried. However you are- just show up. The rest will work itself out. You learn lessons when you show up. Sometimes, I just have to remind myself how far I’ve come!”