Announcing the Emergency Fund for Minority-Owned Small Businesses

Free Hearts and the Southeast Center for Cooperative Development are creating an Emergency Fund for Small Businesses to preserve and restore Nashville’s most culturally vibrant and historic communities.

The devastating March tornado and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic threaten to permanently alter the small business landscape of Middle Tennessee. Minority-owned businesses across the area have either been unable to access or are stuck waiting for local and federal aid.

Add your support to the $5,000+ already committed to invest in Nashville’s cultural spirit and ecosystem.

We can’t afford to wait for government assistance and private lenders to appreciate and invest in the entrepreneurs and communities who make Nashville the diverse and inclusive city so many want to join.

Your support could enable entrepreneurs like: Alphonso Harvey to help women have safer, more comfortable pregnancies and Joshua Mundy to empower minorities by providing cutting edge, comprehensive technology training.

Please reach out if you’re interested in learning more about the Emergency Fund and application process.

The Emergency Fund is an initiative of the New Economy of Tennessee (NET) Fund, a collaboration between Free Hearts and the Southeast Center for Cooperative Development. Learn more about the NET Fund here.

All funds raised will be distributed to qualifying local, minority-owned businesses who apply for assistance and are approved by the NET Fund board members.

Grants will be made in real-time throughout the campaign and we encourage you to sign-up below for updates.

Free Hearts is an organization led by formerly incarcerated women that provides support, education and advocacy in organizing families impacted by incarceration.

The Southeast Center for Cooperative Development is a nonprofit organization that supports workers’ shared ownership and control of cooperative enterprises.