Chattanooga is full of entrepreneurship opportunities. Since 2001, Pathway Lending has been helping local small businesses grow and thrive in Hamilton County and beyond. Founded in 1999, Pathway is a community development financial institution (CDFI) that offers financing and coaching services to businesses that might not be able to secure a traditional bank loan.
Pathway recently marked its 25th anniversary with a celebration at its office in Somer Station on Sept. 24. The event brought together staff, clients, stakeholders, and community partners to reflect on the positive impact they’ve made over the years and to look toward the future. So far, Pathway has coached more than 12,000 entrepreneurs and provided more than $526 million in funding across Tennessee through small business, affordable housing, and energy and sustainability loans. In East Tennessee alone, it has funded $152 million.
As part of the anniversary celebration, Pathway inducted four local businesses into its Client Hall of Fame: Applied Thermal Coatings (Chattanooga), Crescent Sock Co. (Niota), Jamel Containers (Chattanooga), and SockWell (Chattanooga). These businesses have partnered with Pathway for years and have all grown, brought creative solutions to their industries, and made a real difference in their communities.
Pathway Lending offers a variety of loan products, but one area that’s been especially popular in Chattanooga is owner-occupied commercial real estate. For established small businesses with steady growth and long-term plans, buying your own space can offer significant financial and operational benefits.
In addition to lending products, Pathway also offers education programs and business coaching to help clients navigate their growth and make the best decisions for their future. Small-business clients benefit from ongoing access to Pathway’s expert business coaches, who offer personalized one-on-one support, financial planning, workshops, and peer learning opportunities throughout the life of their loan. Pathway is committed to supporting its clients every step of the way—just ask the Hall of Fame clients who have experienced the impact firsthand.
“The only thing I can say today is thank you,” says Harley Grant, CEO of Applied Thermal Coatings.
“Little did we know, our Pathway business coaches would bring a wealth of knowledge to the table and introduce alternative ways of thinking when managing our business,” says Cathy Allen, CEO of Crescent Sock Co.
“You don’t realize the comfort you get when you have someone behind you like Pathway,” says Perry Morris, president of Jamel Containers.
“It’s pretty simple: when you have great people and great partners, you can go a long way,” says Jim Markley, partner at SockWell. “And that is what Pathway did for us.”
Pathway Lending and its local team—Kristina Head, vice president of lending; Katie Hendrix, community engagement director; and Ann Zack, senior business advisor—are dedicated to helping small businesses grow and succeed. They typically partner with clients who have been in business for at least two years, offering loans that average $250,000 to support commercial real estate, equipment purchases, and working capital needs. If you’re an entrepreneur with an opportunity to explore, call (423) 205-3450 or visit www.pathwaylending.org to learn more!
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