Paris, Tenn. — June 18, 2025 — TheCO of Jackson, TN, and The Mill Workspace of Dyersburg, TN, joined forces to present Finding Your Funding, a dynamic event aimed at equipping small business owners and startup founders with valuable information about funding opportunities.
Held at Paris Station in Paris, TN from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., the event brought together a panel of experienced professionals to share their expertise on securing capital for new and growing ventures.
Featured speakers included local entrepreneur and Paris Station owner Anne-Marie Tanner; Jarlecia Jones, Vice President of Pathway Lending for West Tennessee; and Avery McConkey, Capital Associate with LaunchTN. The event was emceed by Chris Donaldson, CEO of The Mill Workspace.
Tanner opened the discussion by sharing her entrepreneurial journey and the challenges she faced in securing funding. She and her husband, Matt, are the owners of several West Tennessee businesses, including their latest venture, the McKenzie Tap Room—a new addition to their parent company, West Tennessee Brewing.
Their entrepreneurial journey began with Paris Station, the first location of West Tennessee Brewing and the very site of Monday’s event. Tanner emphasized the critical role that diverse funding sources played in turning their vision into reality.
McConkey of LaunchTN, shared information about the InvestTN program. InvestTN is a program designed to invest capital into Tennessee-based businesses that have high growth potential. He spoke in detail about the requirements for the program and also gave several tips for businesses seeking an investment opportunity from InvestTN.
Jones noted that Pathway Lending offers a variety of services to entrepreneurs, including small business loans, funding strategy evaluation, business coaching, and educational programs—all designed to promote sustainable growth and long-term success. Pathway is a CDFI lending institution that offers debt financing to businesses that aren’t able to receive financing from traditional banks.
Finding Your Funding served as a valuable opportunity for aspiring and established entrepreneurs to connect with funding experts and gain practical insights into launching or scaling their businesses.
If you own a small business in Northwest Tennessee or you are looking to start a business, The Mill Workspace in Dyersburg, TN and theCO in Jackson, TN are available to assist with any business startup or growth needs.
