A new partnership between UT Federal Credit Union and the University of Tennessee aims to help potential business owners learn what it takes to realize their dreams.

The $196 million UTFCU in Knoxville, Tenn., has teamed up with the university's Knoxville's Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the College of Business Administration to offer Vol Court, a series of one-hour seminars presented weekly over the course of a semester to provide insight on how to start a new business.

The program's goal is to help people develop new business ideas, and it provides a forum for people with different skill sets to connect and potentially form new businesses, according to UTFCU.

"We are happy to be involved in this wonderful opportunity to help students and the community learn what it takes to launch a start-up business," said Malinda Wood, the credit union's vice president of marketing. "There are many potential pitfalls, and opportunities for assistance that the general public simply doesn't know about."

UTFCU's involvement not only includes monetary sponsorship, but Jonathan Patrick, senior vice president of lending, also served as a judge and speaker at a recent session. The next series begins Jan. 31.

 

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