Pathway lending celebrates 25 years of “creating opportunities”
At the celebration company leadership announced two exciting initiatives.
A Nashvlle-based Community Development Financial Institution that got its start in Oak Ridge is celebrating a quarter century in business, supporting start-up founders in the Southeast. Pathway Lending’s entrepreneurial roots grew into a wealth of opportunities for people in Tennessee, and there is no shortage of success stories.
In the past 25 years, Pathway Lending has provided $350 million in financing to 1,510 businesses, which supported more than 30,150 jobs. Additionally, the lender has funded multi-million dollars toward affordable housing solutions, energy efficiency initiatives, mixed-use housing, and new markets tax credits – totaling more than $526 million in loans funded, with more than a billion dollars of economic impact for the region.
“We don’t want any entrepreneur to miss an opportunity because they didn’t have the capacity or capital,” said Clint Gwin, the President of Pathway Lending.
This includes supporting marginalized small business owners, such as Black, women, and veteran-owned companies. Notably, Pathway Lending has lent $188 million to female founders, and $40 million to Black founders.
During the company’s 25th anniversary celebration at the Knoxville Chamber, Gwin announced two exciting initiatives that will further the company’s support for the entrepreneurial community.
The first is “Pathway Connect” which will be an alumni network for clients. Each of Pathway Lending’s markets – Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, and Memphis- will host a quarterly happy hour networking event to gather clients.
Gwin explained that the goal of the group would be to encourage collaboration, communication, and entrepreneurial support from the Pathway community.
The first Pathway Connect in Knoxville is on September 19 from 4-6 p.m. at Ancient Lore Village.
Additionally, Pathway Lending launched its “Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame,” to recognize and encourage founders who have achieved business success – partially thanks to their loan from Pathway.
Gwin announced the first two inductees: Protomet Corporation and Bradley’s.
Bradley’s is a gift, sweet, and chocolate shop in Knoxville. The founders, Brad and Joy Hamlett accepted the honor at the 25th anniversary and spoke highly of their relationship with Gwin and Pathway Lending.
“I want to thank all the people at Pathway, and I also want to thank my wife,” Brad said, looking at her. “She is my partner and none of this would be possible without her.”
Representatives from Protomet were unable to accept the award in person; however, the company recently expanded in East Tennessee (see teknovation.biz article here).
Read more about Pathway Lending here.
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