Pathway Lending, a regional not-for-profit Community Development Financial Institution that provides loans to businesses lacking access to traditional financing, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Tennessee Rural Opportunity Fund (TNROF). The TNROF is a public-private partnership between Pathway Lending, the State of Tennessee and the Tennessee Bankers Association (TBA). Created in 2007, the TNROF provides loans to small businesses across the state that are unable to access traditional bank financing.
The Fund was capitalized with $10 million in community development investments from TBA member banks. Over the past decade, these initial investments have generated 117 loans for over $21 million to 75 businesses in 34 counties throughout Tennessee, created over 330 jobs within the state and retained over 500 more.
"Through the Rural Opportunity Fund, Pathway Lending provides access to credit for small businesses in Tennessee that may not otherwise have access because the needs do not fit into a bank's traditional model," said Colin Barrett, President and CEO of the Tennessee Banker's Association. "These loans help small businesses grow and turn them into viable bank customers, providing an avenue to succeed and support small communities throughout our state."
Through the support of its partners, the TNROF has had impacts on expanding capital access to underserved small businesses. These impacts range from financing Main Street revitalization efforts to expanding manufacturing facilities increasing production while creating and retaining jobs in rural communities throughout Tennessee.
"Banks who have invested in the Rural Opportunity Fund so far have received over $10 million in Franchise and Excise Tax Credits from the State of Tennessee, received CRA credit from regulators and have earned over $3 million in interest income," continues Barrett. "The Rural Opportunity Fund is important for the success of all Tennesseans, our banks and our communities. Every dollar that is loaned into the community is being returned threefold in economic development in Tennessee."
Tennessee Rural Opportunity Fund bank investors include Capital Bank, CB&S Bank, Centennial Bank, Citizens Bank, Commercial Bank & Trust, Decatur County Bank, F&M Bank, FirstBank, First National Bank of Oneida, Foundation Bank, HomeTrust Bank, Legends Bank, Macon Band & Trust Company, Peoples Bank, Pinnacle Bank, Reliant Bank, Simmons Bank and Wayne County Bank.
"Our goal at Pathway Lending is to act as a partner to the banks in our state," said Clint Gwin, President of Pathway Lending. "We focus on the interest of our clients, partners and communities. The Rural Opportunity Fund has been a tremendous success for everyone involved and we are excited about continuing to attract additional capital in to the Fund so it will continue to be available now and into the future."
For more information contact:
Pathway Lending
201 Venture Circle
Nashville, TN 37228
615-425-7171
info@pathwaylending.org
www.pathwaylending.org