Tech 2020's History of Access to Capital

Southeast Community Capital (SCC) was created in 1999 to increase
access to capital for small businesses in Tennessee that were unable
to access traditional sources of financing. Originally headquartered in
Oak Ridge as a subsidiary of Technology 2020, SCC now is an
independent entity with offices across the state and headquarters in
Nashville. SCC has provided more than $20 million in loans to Tennessee
small businesses, and recently announced the Tennessee Rural
Opportunity Fund, a $10 million pool of capital to assist small businesses
in rural areas throughout the state.

Technology 2020 has devoted incredible energy and attention to establish
capital sources for technology at many different stages of development.

One of Tech 2020’s earliest access to capital initiatives was to hold a venture conference to bring investors together with promising young companies. The 11th Annual Tennessee Valley Venture Forum will be held on September 26-27, 2007 at the Knoxville Convention Center.

 

The Southern Appalachian Fund (SAF) was established by Technology 2020 and Kentucky Highlands in 2003 as
one of America’s six New Markets Venture Capital Companies. This $12.5 million fund focuses on early stage
companies located in low income census tracts in Tennessee, Kentucky, and the Appalachian counties of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

 

Meritus Ventures is a $36.441 million venture capital fund formed to make equity investments in expansion stage companies in rural areas of central and southern Appalachia. Meritus is America’s first Rural Business Investment Company. In addition to providing a return for investors, Meritus was designed to create jobs and wealth and to promote economic development in rural areas. Operations commenced in late 2006 and the fund made its first investment in June 2007.