In this episode of Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr., the host speaks with Liliana Tschanett, Public Affairs Specialist, Field Operations Center – East, Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience (ODR&R), U.S. Small Business Administration and Van Wylie, Small Business Development Centers Director for TN Western Region.

Wylie spoke about how he got involved with the SBDC, what it does in the community and who it helps.

Tschanett and Wylie spoke about the upcoming events ( a webinar and a business recovery fair, that SBA and SBDC will present together. The two events will highlight the financial assistance available from the SBA and other federal, state and local agencies, plus free classes and assistance offered through the TSBDC.

The webinar, Tuesday, June 27, at 11 a.m. CDT/12 noon EDT, will offer information on SBA’s working capital loans, technical and counseling services by the TSBDC. Business owners can sign up for the webinar in English or Spanish at the TSBDC website: www.tsbdc.org. The business recovery fair, on Wednesday, June 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CDT, will be held at the Jimmy Naifeh Center at Dyersburg State Community College, 3149 Highway 51 South in Covington, TN. Local, state, and federal agencies will be on-site to answer questions and provide one-on-one assistance.

Small businesses and private non-profit organizations in the following counties are encouraged to attend: Bedford, Cannon, Chester, Clay, Coffee, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, DeKalb, Fayette, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Hickman, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, Madison, Marshall, Maury, McNairy, Perry, Rutherford, Shelby, Smith, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Warren, Wayne, Williamson and Wilson in Tennessee; Lauderdale, in Alabama; Crittenden and Mississippi in Arkansas; Allen and Monroe in Kentucky; and Alcorn, Benton, Tippah and Tishomingo in Mississippi.

Applicants may apply online via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ under SBA declaration # 17867.

Disaster loan information and forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services), or by sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan application forms can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The deadline to return an SBA application for financial losses (Economic Injury Disaster Loan) is Jan. 8, 2024.

In this episode of "Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.", the host interviews Fred McKinnie, Executive Director of Area Relief Ministries (ARM).

Area Relief Ministries is a faith-based non-profit organization that seeks to strengthen the community by alleviating suffering, promoting dignity, and fostering hope with those in need as an ongoing expression of the ministry of Jesus Christ.

McKinnie spoke about what lead him to Area Relief Ministries, his nearly 15-year journey through different positions and departments in the non-profit organization and being appointed executive director of the organization this year.

McKinnie also spoke about the upcoming ARM fundraiser: its annual Salt & Light Banquet Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 5 p.m. at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, 400 South Highland Avenue, Jackson, Tennessee.

"Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr." is a talk show that features people who are making a difference in the community, organizations that are helping to uplift others and important, everyday topics. The radio show version of "Hub City Now" airs Sundays at 6:15 a.m. on JJ 97.7 FM. (For those not in the area, you can also listen to it online at www.radio731.com).

For more information on McKinnie, Area Relief Ministries and how you can help, donate or to purchase tickets to the banquet, visit www.areareliefministries.org, visit ARM (located at 108 South Church St., Jackson, Tenn., 38301), call (731) 423.9257 or email ARM at info@areareliefministries.org.

In this episode of Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr., the host interviewed Mulata Moba of Motema Ministries.

Moba spoke about the 13th Annual Taste of the Congo fundraiser, which will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, October 14, 2023. The event will be held at West Jackson Baptist Church, located at 580 Oil Well Road in Jackson, Tennessee. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets are $30 for adults in advance, $35 at the door, $15 for ages 11-17 and free for children 10 and under. Tables reservations are $240 (8 seats).

Come enjoy the tastes and sounds of the Congo with a night of Congolese cuisine, music and fashion to benefit Motema Ministries’ work in the Congo.

Mottema Ministries is “a community of Christians wishing to share the Gospel through empowerment and education with good works and deeds in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Motema means “heart” in Lingala, one of the primary languages spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This simple word represents what drives this organization—a heart for God and a heart for people. In all we do, we at Motema Ministries try to use our hearts to serve people in the Congo.”

The non-profit organization teaches women and men in the Congo to sew and equips them with the skills and tools to become entrepreneurs.

According to the organization, “The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the largest countries in Africa. It is home to over 75 million people and more than 200 different ethnic groups. Yet, despite its size and diversity, Congo is one of the world’s most poor and broken countries. Years of war and a crumbling economy have ravaged the country, meaning that the average Congolese person must struggle to make a living. Motema seeks to step into these difficult circumstances and provide opportunities to help young entrepreneurs, families, and children. Currently, we operate a vocational sewing school in Masina, a district of Kinshasa, the nation’s capital.”

“At the school, people from the community take part in a multiple-month sewing course, learning how to sew from scratch, free of charge. In a country like Congo where trips to the tailor are a common occurrence, learning this critical vocational skill can provide a source of income and help in finding a job. In some cases, the training has provided young entrepreneurs the impetus needed to begin producing and selling their own products. Students are also mentored by Motema’s staff in Congo and learn about what it means to follow Christ.”

For more information, visit www.motemaministries.org