Promote:
Find public support
The organizations that help companies export from and invest in Tennessee, grouped by what you need. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
1. Where to start
TNECD, Department of Revenue and Tennessee SBDC: the guide’s first stops, of the 12 organizations below.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
- Get advice
State economic development agency
TNECD
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Offers FastTrack job training and economic development grants to companies that locate or expand in Tennessee, and is the state economic development organization SelectUSA lists.
- Meet requirements
State tax and revenue department
Department of Revenue
Tennessee Department of Revenue
Collects Tennessee state taxes, such as the privilege tax on fantasy sports, and gives the State Funding Board its state tax revenue forecasts.
- Get advice
Small business advising network
Tennessee SBDC
Tennessee Small Business Development Centers, International Trade Center
Gives Tennessee companies free one-on-one export advising on readiness, market entry, risk and export financing.
Visit Tennessee SBDC (opens in a new tab)Source: Tennessee SBDC International Trade Center, advising services (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
2. Export development and market information
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
State economic development agency
TNECD
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Offers FastTrack job training and economic development grants to companies that locate or expand in Tennessee, and is the state economic development organization SelectUSA lists.
- Get advice
Small business advising network
Tennessee SBDC
Tennessee Small Business Development Centers, International Trade Center
Gives Tennessee companies free one-on-one export advising on readiness, market entry, risk and export financing.
Visit Tennessee SBDC (opens in a new tab)Source: Tennessee SBDC International Trade Center, advising services (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
State export grant program
Tennessee Export Initiative
Tennessee Export Initiative at Belmont University
Runs Tennessee's State Trade Expansion Program grant, which reimburses 75 percent of eligible export costs, up to US$7,000 per company.
Visit Tennessee Export Initiative (opens in a new tab)Source: Tennessee Export Initiative, STEP Grant Tennessee (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
3. Investment and business setup
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
Local economic development agency
EDGE
Economic Development Growth Engine
Offers Memphis and Shelby County incentives, including payment-in-lieu-of-tax agreements and industrial revenue bonds, and manages Foreign-Trade Zone 77.
Visit EDGE (opens in a new tab)Source: EDGE Memphis and Shelby County, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Get advice
Federal small business office
SBA Tennessee District Office
U.S. Small Business Administration Tennessee District Office
Helps small businesses anywhere in Tennessee with SBA funding programs, counseling and federal contracting certifications, and connects them with lenders and partner organizations.
Visit SBA Tennessee District Office (opens in a new tab)Source: SBA, Tennessee District Office page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Meet requirements
State labor and workforce department
Labor and Workforce Development
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Oversees and assists registered apprenticeship programs that employers run in Tennessee, through its Tennessee Office of Apprenticeship.
4. Customs and tax
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
State tax and revenue department
Department of Revenue
Tennessee Department of Revenue
Collects Tennessee state taxes, such as the privilege tax on fantasy sports, and gives the State Funding Board its state tax revenue forecasts.
- Meet requirements
Airport authority
Memphis Airport Authority
Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority
Runs Memphis's airport, which handled 6.54 billion pounds of cargo in 2025.
5. Standards and sector requirements
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Manufacturing extension center
Tennessee MEP
Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Gives Tennessee manufacturers support to reach quality-system certifications such as ISO 9001, IATF 16949 and AS9100.
Visit Tennessee MEP (opens in a new tab)Source: Tennessee MEP, quality management systems page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Meet requirements
University food safety extension service
UT Food Science Extension
Food Science Extension, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
Tests the pH and water activity of food products, acts as a process authority for acidified food makers, and runs Better Process Control School, preventive controls and HACCP courses.
6. Chambers and industry associations
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
Regional chamber of commerce
Greater Memphis Chamber
Offers members certificates of origin and import and export consulting, and lists the Tennessee STEP grant among its export resources.
Visit Greater Memphis Chamber (opens in a new tab)Source: Greater Memphis Chamber, membership page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Get advice
Corn checkoff promotion board
Tennessee Corn Promotion Board
Uses Tennessee's one-cent-per-bushel corn checkoff to fund market development, research and promotion for Tennessee corn, including visits by foreign trade teams.
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Tennessee project.
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Promote:Tennessee is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 4, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.