NASHVILLE (AP) — The mayors of Nashville, Memphis, Shelby County, Knoxville and Knox County are challenging their local business community to become more energy efficient, sustainable and competitive.

Each city and county will provide with resources to help businesses plan an energy-efficiency project.

Pathway Lending, a state program that helps provide loans for energy efficient investments, said in a news release it is providing $10 million for each of the three areas to finance these projects.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean will announce details of the program on Friday, which is the first of its kind offered to Nashville businesses.