NASHVILLE (AP) — State officials announced a new job creation effort aiming to build Tennessee businesses from the ground up.
Gov. Bill Haslam said Startup Tennessee will put the infrastructure in place to help entrepreneurs find support, mentoring and capital to create new businesses. He announced on Tuesday that Michael Burcham, CEO of The Entrepreneur Center in Nashville, will lead the program.
The plan calls for a website to connect entrepreneurs with training, mentors and investors. The state also plans to launch a $5 million to $10 million grant program to fund business incubators in nine economic zones in the state.
Burcham told The Tennessean that once the program gets started, he predicts Tennessee will have 50 to 70 companies launching every quarter.