Five trends to watch
Five trends that will shape Chattanooga’s economy in the new year:› Automotive sector shifts into high gear as VW adds second vehicle line› Employers face new labor pains to fill more and higher skilled jobs› After decades of moving out, more Chattanoogans are calling downtown home› East Ridge bets big on building new retail base at Exit 1 on I-75› Road, rail, water and air transportation upgrades move ahead to clear transportation bottlenecks
What’s ahead for 2016?
Chattanooga has enjoyed healthy growth over the last half-decade, and is now nearly 4 percent larger by population (with 174,000 residents currently) than it was in 2010; in the last five years, Chattanooga has outpaced Knoxville (population 184,000) in annual population growth.
In part, it’s because Chattanooga has The Gig. Volkswagen. Amazon. Two major, national long-haul trucking companies. And the Tennessee River. Not to mention a growing hipster scene and a reputation as both a town for outdoor enthusiasts and for those looking to retire.
And in a state that relies heavily on its tourism industry, Chattanooga has also shaped and molded itself – ever increasingly in recent years – into a billion-dollar-a-year tourist destination.