Chattanooga is one of the first cities in the Tennessee Valley to receive a top environmental rating that officials say can help woo more jobs to Hamilton County.

Chattanooga and Hamilton County shared a platinum rating from TVA's Valley Sustainable Communities program.

During a news conference announcing the honor today, TVA Senior Consultant Millie Callaway said that only two or three communities in the Valley have received the platinum ranking so far. She said the ranking is weighted towards environmentally sustainable business activities and Chattanooga benefited from its sustainable industrial parks, the Tennessee Riverwalk and the growing number LEED-certified buildings in the Scenic City.