BETA: Business Entrepreneurship Training Accelerator program

The Memphis affiliate of the Tennessee Urban League Affiliates (TULA) announced October 13, 2022, that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has awarded a $3 million grant to support and grow statewide business development programs for BIPOC (Black and Indigenous People of Color) business development initiatives – to enhance business sustainability and growth over the next three years. The money will fund TULA’s workforce readiness training centers, information technology, entrepreneurship, and executive leadership programs across the state.

The Tennessee Urban League Affiliates (TULA) announced on September 7th that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has awarded a $3 million grant to support and grow statewide business development programs for BIPOC  business development initiatives – to enhance business sustainability and growth over the next three years. The money will fund TULA’s workforce readiness training centers, information technology, entrepreneurship, and executive leadership programs across the state. To learn more about TULA and the Memphis Urban League (BETA) program, please call 901-272-2491 or fill out the form below.

Program Eligibility/Requirements

To qualify for the BETA BIPOC Small Business Accelerator, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Must self-identify as BIPOC – which includes anyone who identifies as Hispanic, Latinx, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Alaskan Native, Desi, Asian or Pacific Islander
• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Business must be in the target region of the program iteration – Memphis/Shelby County, TN
• In business at minimum of 1-3 years
• Not currently past due on federal obligations or are on a recovery plan
• Not involved in felony-level criminal activity, crimes of moral turpitude, or financial
• Not engaged in any of the following industries: adult entertainment, gambling or gaming, real estate investments or housing projects, passive activity (rental), anything federally illegal, multi-level marketing, and nonprofit activities.