Chattanooga area business calendar

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Events and Seminars

• 48-Hour Launch Demo Night Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Church on Main, 1601 Rossville Ave. Demo Night is the culmination of 48-Hour Launch, a weekend-long startup competition. Tickets to Demo Night are $5. Visit http://colab.co/ to learn more.

• Member orientation Tuesday from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Chamber Board Room, 811 Broad St. Learn more about how the Chamber can benefit you and your business. For members and nonmembers, the event is free with a light breakfast. Please RSVP to Amanda Miller at amiller@chattanoogachamber.com to participate.

• Ribbon Cutting for Chicken Salad Chick Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Chicken Salad Chick, 629 Market St., Suite 101. Join the Chattanooga Chamber for the grand opening of Chicken Salad Chick.

• North Chattanooga Council meeting Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The INCubator, 100 Cherokee Blvd. Speakers: David Hunter of Nooga Labs and Maggie Hodges of Full Media. Topic: "How To Grow Your Business Through Social Media." Sponsored by the Association for Visual Arts. Meetings cost $10.

• AM Networking at COS Business Products and Interiors Wednesday from 8 to 9 a.m. at COS Business Products and Interiors, 1548 Riverside Drive. For more information, please contact Whitney Risley at 423-763-4357 or events@chattanoogachamber.com.

• ConnectForLunch Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. at participating local restaurants. ConnectForLunch is a Chattanooga Chamber program bringing professionals together for face-to-face lunch meetings with two or three different members. Visit www.connect4lunch.com/chattanoogachamber to register.

• 1 Million Cups Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m. at Harvest Creative, 1423 Market St. Held every Wednesday, 1 Million Cups brings Chattanooga's entrepreneurial community together to hear two startup entrepreneurs and unique local businesses pitch their companies.

• Downtown Council meeting Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Read House, 827 Broad St. The Downtown Council will host a candidate meet and greet in lieu of its morning meeting. Meetings cost $15, and valet parking is included.

• Ribbon cutting for Bluff View at Northside apartments Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Bluff View at Northside Apartments, 6200 Hixson Pike, Apt. 200. Please join the Chattanooga Chamber in celebrating the grand opening of Bluff View at Northside Apartments.

• Southside Council meeting Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at greenspaces, 63 E. Main St. Speaker: Dr. Marcus Mauldin, assistant professor, UTC Department of Political Science, Public Administration and Nonprofit Management. Topic: "The Economic Impact of Local Nonprofits in the Chattanooga Business Area." Meetings cost $10.

• "What Is a Business Plan, and Why Do I Need One?" Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. at BrightBridge Women's Business Center, 535 Chestnut St., Ste. 161. This workshop is targeted to individuals who want to start or grow their business. Hosted by the BrightBridge Women's Business Center, this event is free and open to the public. Call 423-424-4220 to register.

• Small-business orientation Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The INCubator, 100 Cherokee Blvd. Counselor will discuss basic business planning including financial projections and legal entities. Attendees will receive an information packet containing phone numbers and addresses for information about business licenses, taxes and other start-up materials. Hosted by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, this event is free and open to the public. Call 423-756-8668 for more information and to register.

• Financing Your Business the SBA Way Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m at The INCubator, 100 Cherokee Blvd. This workshop covers SBA loan options including which loan programs meet specific entrepreneurial needs. The session begins with the five C's of credit: character, cash flow, collateral, capitalization and conditions. Hosted by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center. Call 423-756-8668 for more information and to register.

• Chattanooga Real Estate Investors Association monthly meeting Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Car Barn, 6721 Heritage Business Court. Topic: creative lending and borrowing. Speakers: Bill and Kim Cook from Adairsville, Ga., who will be sharing how they have built their real estate business by not using the normal lending avenues. Cost: $25 per non-member.

• Reality Check-Chattanooga Girls' Leadership Academy Friday from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Chattanooga Girls' Leadership Academy, 1802 Bailey Ave. Reality Check teaches ninth-graders about budgeting and emphasizes the connection between education and income by allowing students to role-play as heads of household providing for their families on a set budget. To volunteer for this Chattanooga Chamber career readiness program, please contact Cathy Humble at 423-763-4321 or chumble@chattanoogachamber.com.

• Free legal advising with Chambliss Start-Up Group Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Company Lab, 55 E. Main St. Visit The Company Lab the first Friday of every month to receive free legal advice from the Chambliss Start-Up Group. To schedule a 30-minute time slot for your start-up, email info@colab.co.