A 40-year regional growth planning effort encompassing 15 counties in the Chattanooga area is taking a step forward, officials said today.
Three groups competing to oversee the initiative have been identified and officials will pick one after a Nov. 17 public meeting.
The competing teams are:
- Wallace Roberts & Todd; Gresham Smith & Partners; PlaceMatters; Ann Coulter; Neathawk Dubuque& Packett; Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness; Center for Neighborhood Technology; Leslee T. Alexander Consulting; Constructive Technologies Group; and RERC Strategic Advisors.
- McBride Dale Clarion; Clarion Associates; Fregonese Associates; Kimley-Horn and Associates; Brown Pearman Russell; BAE Urban Economics; Opticos Design, Inc; Ann Coulter; PlaceMatters; The Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies; and Neathawk Dubuque & Packett.
- Renaissance Planning Group; Cambridge Systematics; ICF International; Barge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon; Ann Coulter; Neathawk Dubuque & Packett; Robert Grow Consulting; and The Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies.
Officials aim to start the planning process in the first part of 2012.
"Our goal is to create a kind of business plan for the region," said Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger.
See Saturday's Times Free Press for full story.