Authored By Staff Report

The Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union announced the 21st Idea Leap Grant semifinalists. More than 200 businesses applied for the grant, Tommy Nix, TVFCU vice president of business and commercial services, said. The selection committee will interview the remaining 21 semifinalists, and choose 10 to pitch their business plans during Startup Week in October. Five businesses will eventually be selected to receive one of five grants. The grants are valued at $20,000, $15,000, $10,000, or $2,500. Two of the grants will be for $2,500. The grant initiative is an extension of TVFCU’s Idea Leap Loan Initiative created in October 2016, according to a news release. The finalists are:

Carter Wexler, Big Frog Brewery
Jenny Whitener, Bridge Innovate
Bailey Cole, Cashew
Laurie Stevens, Chattanooga School of Language
Wendy Halsey-Richardson, Chattanooga’s Healthy Hearing
Felicia Jackson, CPR Wrap
Cynthia Wood, Dipped Fresh
Amanda Nelson-Varnell, Dish T’Pass
Darin Wright, Elea Blake Cosmetics
Jennifer Strain, Good Fortune Soap
Drs. Rebecca and Joe Klein, Inspire Chiropractic
Norma Maloney, LoAdebar
Eric Landrum, Locals Only
Michael Rice, Mad Priest Coffee
Rachel McCrickard, Motivo
Joseph Bozich, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Chattanooga
Kelly Hailey, Pigtails and Crewcuts
Loren Potter, Potter’s Plumbing and Tile
Jennifer Hoff, Skye Strategies
Ann Dickerson, Tennessee Moonshine Cakes
Wendy Buckner, The Hot Chocolatier