Chattanooga is growing, but the appetite for talent in the local job market makes attracting more new people to the Scenic City an important priority, says Molly Blankenship, vice president of talent initiatives for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and the executive director of Chattanooga 2.0.
“We have to do both – attract and retain new talent, and grow our existing workforce,” Blankenship says. “Employers are clamoring for both strategies. Even if we trained every person in our community, we still have jobs to fill.”
Chattanooga’s population was up about 8% between 2010 and 2018, to about 181,000 people, according to the U.S. Census. The Chamber is surveying area professionals to find out what’s important to them in a community and what compels them to stay, but what she hears from new arrivals suggests a few things are leading factors, Blankenship says.
“Anecdotally, it’s outdoor recreation, the food and culture scene, urban amenities and their proximity to outdoor spaces, and the cost of living,” she says.
The Chamber has developed a range of programs to recruit new residents, and to make them feel at home once they arrive. Chattanewbies connects people from across industries, age groups and interests, while the Young Professionals and Protege programs focus on supporting people who are early in building their careers and professional connections. Another resource is Chattanooga Insight, a day-and-a-half program that offers new residents a glimpse of all things Chattanooga.