Authored By Staff Report
The Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union announced the 21st Idea Leap Grant semifinalists. More than 200 businesses applied for the grant, Tommy Nix, TVFCU vice president of business and commercial services, said. The selection committee will interview the remaining 21 semifinalists, and choose 10 to pitch their business plans during Startup Week in October. Five businesses will eventually be selected to receive one of five grants. The grants are valued at $20,000, $15,000, $10,000, or $2,500. Two of the grants will be for $2,500. The grant initiative is an extension of TVFCU’s Idea Leap Loan Initiative created in October 2016, according to a news release. The finalists are:
- Carter Wexler, Big Frog Brewery
- Jenny Whitener, Bridge Innovate
- Bailey Cole, Cashew
- Laurie Stevens, Chattanooga School of Language
- Wendy Halsey-Richardson, Chattanooga’s Healthy Hearing
- Felicia Jackson, CPR Wrap
- Cynthia Wood, Dipped Fresh
- Amanda Nelson-Varnell, Dish T’Pass
- Darin Wright, Elea Blake Cosmetics
- Jennifer Strain, Good Fortune Soap
- Drs. Rebecca and Joe Klein, Inspire Chiropractic
- Norma Maloney, LoAdebar
- Eric Landrum, Locals Only
- Michael Rice, Mad Priest Coffee
- Rachel McCrickard, Motivo
- Joseph Bozich, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Chattanooga
- Kelly Hailey, Pigtails and Crewcuts
- Loren Potter, Potter’s Plumbing and Tile
- Jennifer Hoff, Skye Strategies
- Ann Dickerson, Tennessee Moonshine Cakes
- Wendy Buckner, The Hot Chocolatier
