You’ve no doubt seen the resiliency of Chattanoogans and the ability of people to come together to solve big problems. That’s what our Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce has been doing over our 133-year history in Chattanooga.
Before the events of this spring and summer, nearly 5,000 people responded to the call in Hamilton County and shared their desires for themselves, their children and grandchildren through the Velocity2040 survey. From that, the Chattanooga Chamber, many partners and individuals from the community embarked on planning and research to create Chattanooga Climbs, a five-year economic growth and inclusive talent development plan. We remain passionately committed to the goals of Chattanooga Climbs.
This early work meant we were as well-positioned as possible to respond quickly to the impact of the pandemic on businesses and to offer trusted information about financial resources and new legislative measures to help businesses survive and plan for rebuilding.
In the coming months, I look forward to working closely with our board of directors, our Chattanooga Chamber Council leaders, business leaders, key partners and our many volunteers. It is extremely important to me that we engage with businesses and organizations to rebuild our momentum, specifically in the areas of economic growth and inclusive talent development.
As a community we are resilient, courageous and authentic. We’re one of the best – if not the best – communities people could possibly consider for relocation – especially those who enjoy outdoor activities and who require the fastest internet in the world. We are always planning for our future, and we never once thought about anything other than a robust rebuild of our economy.