SouthEast Bank announces $65,000 donation to help grow and support local business talent.
Knoxville, Tenn. November 15, 2023 — SouthEast Bank is thrilled to join LAUNCH Chattanooga in assisting new entrepreneurs in reaching success in the Chattanooga community. The $65,000 donation from SouthEast Bank will provide business coaching, mentoring, networking opportunities, and building local support for underserved communities and individuals.
SouthEast Bank maintains a passion for uplifting the communities it serves. LAUNCH Chattanooga is a beacon for young and adult entrepreneurs looking for new opportunities and support to thrive in Chattanooga. They have provided resources, workshops, and courses on financial wellness to those in their program since 2011.
SouthEast Bank has deepened its commitment to LAUNCH Chattanooga as the cohort sponsor for the year, covering the costs of all six classes held annually. This financial support plays a crucial role in minimizing expenses for individual entrepreneurs, and as a sponsor, SouthEast Bank will actively engage by speaking at classes and graduation ceremonies. Moreover, the bank is dedicated to facilitating banking connections for entrepreneurs, enhancing the synergy between financial expertise and aspiring business leaders.
Additionally, SouthEast Bank is extending its support to LAUNCH Chattanooga’s youth program, which is undergoing adjustments post-pandemic. The bank is providing funds to facilitate these changes, allowing the youth program, with a successful 10-year history, to continue to adapt and thrive. SouthEast Bank is also committed to connecting LAUNCH Chattanooga with other bank employees interested in volunteering for the newly designed youth program, showcasing their comprehensive support for empowering individuals and communities through entrepreneurship at both educational and grassroots levels.
With the resources provided by SouthEast Bank’s donation, LAUNCH Chattanooga can expand its outreach to an increasing number of entrepreneurs within their network who are passionately pursuing their dreams each year, according to Hal Bowling, Co-CEO of LAUNCH. Bowling emphasized the continual growth in the number of entrepreneurs in their network, describing them as local individuals with business ideas seeking guidance on how and where to begin their journey. He expressed the organization’s goal of assisting these aspiring entrepreneurs in realizing their dreams, and he highlighted the significance of SouthEast Bank’s partnership in enabling them to persist in this meaningful community work.
“We are incredibly grateful for SouthEast Bank’s partnership with LAUNCH,” says Bowling. “Their financial commitment and connection with SouthEast Bank employees is a powerful combination that will definitely help us accomplish our mission of empowering individuals and communities through entrepreneurship.”
As a proud financial institution of Chattanooga, SouthEast Bank invests in community organizations across the southeast. Commercial Relationship Manager for SouthEast Bank, Juli-Ann Morgan, sits on LAUNCH Chattanooga’s Board of Directors and holds the office of Treasurer. She comments that the bank is proud to be working with LAUNCH Chattanooga.
“I have been able to work up close with the courses LAUNCH Chattanooga offers and am excited on behalf of SouthEast Bank to help further LAUNCH’s mission,” Morgan says. “From start-ups to existing businesses, SouthEast Bank is honored to contribute to the growth of entrepreneurs in Chattanooga.”
SouthEast Bank serves local businesses across Middle and East Tennessee, promoting financial wellness through work with organizations like LAUNCH. Both entities look forward to continuing to uplift Chattanoogan entrepreneurs.
About LAUNCH Chattanooga:
LAUNCH Chattanooga is a nonprofit organization that strives to support start-up and early-stage entrepreneurs in the greater Chattanooga, Tennessee area with a focus on Black-owned, women-owned and micro-businesses. LAUNCH began in 2011 and also owns and operates the Kitchen Incubator of Chattanooga. The organization has helped start over 500 businesses, most of which are owned by women and people of color.
About SouthEast Bank:
SouthEast Bank is a community bank headquartered in Farragut, Tennessee. With assets in excess of $2.6 billion, SouthEast Bank offers a full suite of loan and deposit products and services for families and businesses throughout Middle and East Tennessee, including its specialty consumer loan division, ELFI, which specializes in educational loan programs. SouthEast Bank is committed to the financial success of its customers, employees, and communities. Local decision-making and community involvement have been the driving successes of SouthEast Bank since its inception. Member FDIC. For more information, visit www.southeastbank.com or call 1-844-732-2657.
