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One of the most useful things a Chamber of Commerce does is answer the question of who to call. Overton County businesses have access to a substantial amount of assistance from state agencies, federal programs, regional organizations, and local partners, and very little of it is easy to find unless you already know it exists. This page is our attempt to put the whole landscape in one place. 

If you cannot find what you need here, call us at (931) 823-6421. Helping you locate the right resource is part of what your membership pays for, and it is one of our favorite parts of the job. 

Starting a Business 

Tennessee Smart Start. The state's guided walkthrough of the steps required to launch a business in Tennessee, including entity formation, registration, licensing, and tax setup. 

Tennessee Secretary of State, Business Services. Entity formation, annual reports, and business filings through the Tennessee Charity and Business Filing System. 

Tennessee Small Business Development Center. Free, confidential one-on-one counseling for business planning, financial projections, and market research, available to Overton County businesses through the regional office. 

The Biz Foundry. Our regional entrepreneurship partner, offering coaching, training, and startup programming in the Upper Cumberland. 

Overton County and City of Livingston. Local business licensing, zoning, permitting, and codes. 

Financing and Capital 

U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA 7(a) and 504 loan guarantees, microloans, disaster assistance, and the specialized guarantee programs that can make a rural project financeable when conventional underwriting will not. 

USDA Rural Development. Business and Industry loan guarantees, Rural Business Development Grants, Rural Energy for America Program grants and loans, and community facility financing. 

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. State grant and incentive programs including FastTrack, the Tennessee Rural Opportunity Fund, and downtown and rural development programs. 

Upper Cumberland Development District. Regional revolving loan funds and lending programs serving the fourteen county region. 

Local lenders. Overton County is served by a number of financial institutions with local decision-making authority. Browse our member directory for banking and lending members. 

Opportunity Zones. Federal tax incentives for equity investment in designated census tracts. 

Hiring and Workforce 

Chamber Job Board. Post your open positions and reach job seekers across Overton County. 

American Job Center. Recruitment assistance, applicant screening, and training funds for employers, administered regionally through the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency. 

Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Upper Cumberland. Technical training, customized workforce training for employers, and a pipeline of credentialed graduates. 

Overton County Schools. Career and technical education programs, work-based learning placements, and student internships. 

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Unemployment insurance, labor law compliance, workplace safety, and on the job training reimbursement programs. 

Licensing, Permits, and Compliance 

Tennessee Department of Revenue. Sales tax registration, business tax, and franchise and excise tax. 

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Professional and occupational licensing. 

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Environmental permitting. 

City of Livingston and Overton County. Local permits, business licenses, zoning, codes, and inspections. 

Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Licensing for beer, wine, and liquor sales. 

Data and Research 

Livingston and Overton County Community Data Profile. Published annually by the Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association, covering demographics, labor force, wages, utilities, transportation, education, and taxes. 

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Market Information. County level employment, wage, and industry data. 

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey data, business patterns, and economic census figures. 

Tennessee Center for Rural Innovation at Tennessee Tech. Data and research support for rural communities in the region. 

Downtown, Historic, and Tourism 

Main Street Livingston. Downtown revitalization, historic preservation, facade and building improvement, and downtown business support. 

Overton County Tourism. Visitor information, the county visitor guide, event listings, and tourism partner resources. 

Tennessee Historical Commission. Historic preservation grants, National Register listings, and the federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credit programs. 

Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. Tourism marketing cooperative programs, grants, and destination development assistance. 

Emergency and Continuity 

SBA Disaster Assistance. Low interest disaster loans for businesses and nonprofits following a declared disaster. 

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. Preparedness planning and disaster recovery resources. 

Overton County Emergency Management. Local emergency information and coordination. 

Member Resources 

Member Directory. Search Chamber members by category, and update your own listing through the member portal. 

Member Login. Manage your profile, pay invoices, register for events, and post jobs. 

Ribbon Cuttings. Schedule a ceremony for your grand opening, expansion, relocation, or anniversary. 

Sponsorship. Put your business in front of the Chamber membership and the wider community. 

A Note on Scams 

Tennessee businesses regularly receive official-looking mail and email from third parties offering to file annual reports or other required documents for fees far above what the state charges. These solicitations are not affiliated with the Secretary of State or with this Chamber. Annual reports can be filed directly with the Tennessee Secretary of State at substantially lower cost, and suspicious correspondence can be reported to the Division of Business and Charitable Organizations. If something arrives that looks questionable, send it to us and we will help you check it.