Inspired by the recent trend, ORNL Federal Credit Union said it will promote and supportlocal small businesses across East Tennessee through a cashmob.

The $1.5 billion credit union in Oak Ridge, Tenn., said itscash mob effort, Small Business Counts, will start in July andwill include the promotion and support of two East Tennesseebusinesses each month.

The locations and meeting dates will be announced one week inadvance of each event and have not yet been determined, accordingto ORNL.

In selecting the local businesses to support as a part of itscash mob program, the credit union said the business should belocally owned and independently operated, have products that costless than $20 and the owners should give back to the community insome way.

“At ORNL Federal Credit Union, we believe that smallbusiness counts. The concept of a cash mob is one that fitsperfectly with our core value of community improvement,” said ChrisJohnson, president/CEO of the Oak Ridge credit union.

“There are few better ways to build a community than through thesupport and advocacy of small business, and I hope this programwill encourage people to share in our commitment to the well-beingof these merchants and communities,” he added.

In related news, ORNL announced Peter Collins has been appointedvice president of business services.

In his new role, Collins will direct the credit union's businesslending and business banking divisions, including staffdevelopment, portfolio growth and compliance, according toORNL.

Collins was previously the owner and managing director at aCleveland consulting firm specializing in credit and commercialloan analysis and business intelligence, the credit union said.