The Rev. Jesse Jackson will visit Chattanooga today for an update on the Volkswagen project and to check out a minority trade show.
In his third trip to Chattanooga in a year and his second in a month, Mr. Jackson contacted the German automaker for a progress report on the assembly plant under construction in the city, said Guenther Scherelis, VW's general manager of communication here.
"We took the opportunity to invite him to the trade show," he said.
About 30 minority companies have been invited to meet with VW suppliers at the show inside the Chattanooga Convention Center, Mr. Scherelis said.
"We're confident a lot of (suppliers) will come," he said.
Sherrie Gilchrist, the Tennessee Multicultural Chamber of Commerce's chief executive, said Mr. Jackson's visits draw a lot of attention.
"The press covers his visits. It does get people's attention that he's in town," she said.
Ms. Gilchrist also said Mr. Jackson is working closely with Olivet Baptist Church on several initiatives.
In June 2009, the 68-year-old civil rights leader and Olivet pastor Kevin Adams toured the VW plant site at Enterprise South industrial park. They also spoke remotely with local VW CEO Frank Fischer and President of Manufacturing Don Jackson in Germany. Mr. Jackson spoke to a packed house at Mr. Adams' church.
In the VW meeting, Mr. Jackson said the automaker made a commitment "of inclusion for women and people of color."
Less than a month ago, Mr. Jackson attended the AT&T annual meeting in Chattanooga to talk about minority hiring and other issues. He urged AT&T to focus development on extending broadband to rural areas.
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