Business Networking for the Now

04/08/2026

Join us for our next Business Networking for the Now meeting and connect with local business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who are committed to growing and supporting Shelbyville and Bedford County.

📅 Thursday, April 9, 2026
⏰ Starting at 8:00 AM
📍 VFW Post 5019
🏠 1320 Depot St, Shelbyville, TN

Each month, we create a space where professionals from all backgrounds can come together, build relationships, share ideas, and discover new opportunities. Whether you’re a long-time business owner or just getting started, this is a place where you can be seen, heard, and supported.
Bring your business cards, invite someone new, and come ready to connect.

This event is free and open to everyone.

02/16/2026

We need YOU to be a part of helping us Name Our 2026 Giveaway Mule! 🫏

Right now he goes by the nickname “Lipsy,” but we’re looking for the perfect official name for this dark bay yearling John mule. Out of a Quarter Horse mare and expected to mature around 15 hands tall, he’s already proving to be friendly, easy to catch, and the kind that meets you at the gate in the pasture. We’re inviting you to help us choose his name for the 6th Annual American Mule & Bluegrass Festival, happening Thursday, September 24, 2026 through Sunday, September 27, 2026 at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Grounds in Shelbyville, Tennessee.

Voting will be open from Monday, February 16 through Sunday, February 22, and you can participate by visiting the link in the comments to cast your vote. While you’re there, you can also purchase a $5 ticket, with proceeds donated to a nonprofit organization. Last year, we partnered with Mission Mules — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and sister organization to Mountain Mule Packer Ranch of North Carolina and through your support were able to donate $10,000 to help them deliver food, medical supplies, and essential aid into hard-to-reach disaster areas using mules.

Be part of the journey from the very beginning. Cast your vote, grab a ticket, and help us give this year’s giveaway mule a name that carries purpose into 2026.

Cast your vote for our 2026 Giveaway Mule’s official name here

https://www.americanmuleandbluegrassfestival.com/post/vote-for-the-2026-american-mule-and-bluegrass-festival-mule-s-name

02/16/2026

At our February meeting of Business Networking for the Now, we were reminded that a home is far more than four walls and a roof. It is stability. It is security. It is the foundation from which a child learns, grows, and begins to imagine a future for themselves.

Pam Birtcil with Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity shared the impact their organization continues to have on families in Shelbyville and Bedford County by providing a pathway to affordable homeownership. She told two powerful stories. One was about a young child whose life was transformed simply by having consistency and stability. The other was about a teenager who, on more than one occasion, stepped off the school bus to find his family’s belongings sitting in the front yard. That experience of uncertainty eventually gave way to something very different a home his family could truly call their own. Through financial literacy courses, required savings plans, and structured preparation, Habitat ensures families are equipped not only to purchase a home but to sustain it long term. The result is stability and opportunity.

We were also encouraged to welcome three new business owners to the room. Meeting new faces is something we value deeply at Business Networking for the Now. Each month, we intentionally visit and invite businesses throughout Shelbyville and Bedford County to make sure they know they are welcome. whether they’ve been here for years or just recently opened their doors. Growth happens when people consistently show up and support one another.

A special thank you to Nancy June for hosting us, and to Pam and her team for sharing their work. Congratulations to Morgan from First Choice Pregnancy Center for winning our wireless microphone giveaway. Over the past few months, we’ve provided practical tools like gimbal stabilizers and microphones to help small business owners strengthen their social media presence and improve how they communicate with their audience.

We look forward to our next meeting on Thursday, March 12, from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Location details will be announced soon. If you believe in connection, collaboration, and strengthening our local business community, we hope you’ll join us.

02/11/2026

January’s Business Networking for the Now meeting was a strong way to begin the year.

We had a great turnout at Flamingo Plaza, with business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders coming together to connect, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships. It was encouraging to see both familiar faces and new attendees in the room, all committed to growing their businesses and strengthening Shelbyville and Bedford County.

During the meeting, we shared practical insight on how small businesses can use organic social media content to increase visibility and attract new customers. The conversations that followed along with the 60-second introductions reminded us why this group continues to grow. When local professionals show up consistently and support one another, real momentum is created.

Thank you to everyone who attended, participated, and contributed to the discussion. Your presence is what makes Business Networking for the Now valuable.

Now we look ahead to February.

Join us for our next Business Networking for the Now meeting:

📅 Thursday, February 12, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
📍 Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity
🏠 210 S Main St., Shelbyville, TN

Our guest speaker will be Pam Birtcil, who will share about the impact Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity has had on local families by providing a pathway to affordable homeownership. She will also share stories from families whose lives have been changed through their work in our community.

As always, this is a free event open to all business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members. Bring your business cards, invite someone new, and come ready to connect.

We look forward to seeing you in February as we continue building a stronger, more connected Shelbyville together.

02/02/2026

Join us for Business Networking for the Now a welcoming space to connect, collaborate, and learn alongside local entrepreneurs, business owners, and community members.

📅 Thursday, February 12
⏰ 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
📍 Bedford Builds Habitat for Humanity
210 S Main St., Shelbyville, TN

This month’s guest speaker, Pam Birtcil, will share the powerful impact Habitat for Humanity has made right here in our community highlighting how their work provides a pathway to affordable homeownership and telling real stories from families they’ve helped over the years.

Bring your business cards, invite a friend, and come ready to build meaningful connections. This event is free and open to everyone. We look forward to seeing you there!

02/01/2026

BreezeHome Cottage

01/14/2026

01/08/2026

Business Networking for the Now is happening TODAY!

Join us this morning for our monthly Business Networking for the Now meeting and connect with local business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals from Shelbyville, Bedford County, and beyond.

📅 Today — Thursday, January 8
⏰ 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
📍 Flamingo Plaza
405 Thompson Street, Shelbyville, TN

Bring your business cards, be ready to introduce your business, and come ready to connect. This is a free event and everyone is welcome. We hope to see you there!

01/05/2026

We’re kicking off 2026 with our first Business Networking for the Now meeting at Flamingo Plaza, located at 405 Thompson Street, Shelbyville, TN.

📅 Thursday, January 8, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM

For this January meeting, Andres Gonzalez will be giving a short, practical presentation on how to use social media to benefit your business, with a focus on organic content, visibility, and how to get new eyes and potential new customers to discover what you do without relying on paid ads.

This meeting is free to attend and open to all business professionals and entrepreneurs in Shelbyville and Bedford County. If you’re from outside the area, you’re absolutely welcome as well. Bring your business cards, be ready to connect, and start the year building real relationships that support growth in 2026.

We look forward to seeing you there.