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MEDIA CONTACT                                                                                                              Ashley Anthony

Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce

Communications Coordinator

aanthony@jacksontn.com

731.423.2200

                                                                                                           

  January 7, 2010

Jackson native aims to strengthen local small businesses

Jackson, TN – Southeast Community Capital, a small business economic development lender, is currently looking for companies in the Jackson area to loan money to.

“We’re not a bank, but our goal is to help businesses grow,” said Amy Bunton, senior vice president of Southeast Community Capital.  “One strategy we think might help is for these businesses to own their building instead of renting a space. This can really help stabilize them in the community.”

Bunton, a Jackson native, met with local business leaders on Wednesday, Jan. 6 in Jackson to get suggestions on where to find companies in the area that might want to purchase the building they use.

“I love to see my hometown take advantage of opportunities we offer,” Bunton said. Her family owns commercial real estate in downtown Jackson, and her father owns Horton & Associates in Jackson.

Southeast Community Capital, which has state offices set up in Jackson, Nashville, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities, loans money to commercial and service related business such as insurance agencies, medical practices, daycare facilities and manufacturing businesses, Bunton said.

In July 2009, the company received about $2 million from the federal stimulus program to help rural Tennessee businesses.

“We have some funds that are designated for Main Street businesses in rural Tennessee and to help companies with commercial real estate acquisition,” Bunton said.

In order for a local business to qualify for a loan, Bunton said the owner has to have at least 10 percent equity. The business also needs to have been in existence for at least two years.

“We’d like to see that their business is growing,” Bunton said. 

For more information about Southeast Community Capital, call 615-254-6113 or visit www.sccapital.org.

                                                                                                                                                    

About the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce:

The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1905 – seven years prior to the United States Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber consists of a diverse and talented staff, an executive committee, dedicated volunteers, and more than 1,400 business members – all committed to growing the economy and quality of life for everyone in Madison County and the region.

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