To help the local economy prosper for all citizens during the next five years, Chattanooga’s chief economic development agency is asking residents to share their concerns, dreams and opinions about the future by answering a few questions in a new online poll.
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce launched a 15-question survey Thursday as part of its development of a new economic development plan. Known as Chattanooga Climbs Higher, the new strategic plan is designed to guide the Chamber’s work program for job creation, talent development and equitable access to increase regional prosperity.
The survey asks respondents to identify the best and worst attributes of Chattanooga and what they see as the biggest needs and opportunities for the next five years. Chamber President Charles Wood said the responses will become part of the research needed for the next iteration of the development strategy for 2024 through 2028.
“Public feedback is critical as we work to develop a fresh, contemporary vision for our local economy–particularly as so many unique challenges and opportunities have emerged on the heels of a global pandemic,” Wood said in a statement Thursday. “We invite leaders from faith-based organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and our diverse neighborhoods to encourage all local residents to complete this survey.”
Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly, who is pushing his One Chattanooga program to help include all citizens in the city’s economic growth, encouraged local residents to take the online survey “so that all Chattanoogans have the opportunity to thrive” and have their voices heard.
The city of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, EPB and TVA collectively provide more than $1 million a year in public funding to the Chattanooga Chamber Foundation to support the Chattanooga Climbs economic development program for Hamilton County. The Chamber raises even more private funds and membership dues from businesses to support its operations.
“Now is the time for us to prepare for an economy that could look very different from the one we have today,” Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp said in a statement about the new Chattanooga Climbs Higher campaign.
Janelle Reilly, the market CEO for CHI Memorial Hospital who is also this year’s chair of the Chattanooga Chamber, said the Chamber’s economic development program has helped the region to grow and thrive. Between 2014 and 2019, the Chattanooga Climbs job growth and investment strategy generated an additional $1.3 billion in economic activity for the Chattanooga region, according to the Chamber.
“That said, regional and local economies are dynamic – so plans must be updated every few years to remain relevant, inclusive, and successful,” Reilly said.
Michael Mathis, the Pinnacle Bank president who is heading the Chattanooga Climbs Steering Committee, said the survey is key in shaping the Chamber’s future programs.
“By engaging as many Chattanooga residents as possible through Chattanooga Climbs Higher, we will gain a clearer understanding of our collective needs, aspirations, challenges, and opportunities,” he said.
In 2019, results gathered from the Chattanooga Chamber’s Velocity2040 community-wide visioning survey of more than 5,000 people revealed five top priorities for a 20-year timeframe in Chattanooga:
1) Be the smartest city in the South; focus on educational excellence for all students.
2) Every resident thrives economically.
3) A transit trip of 20 minutes or less is our standard.
4) Diverse leaders represent the full spectrum of who we are.
5) With openness and respect, a collaborative process for solving challenges is what will transform neighborhoods and bring our local governments together.
The new survey is available at bit.ly/ChaClimbs.
– Compiled by Dave Flessner