There’s a saying that “if you’ve got your health, you’ve got just about everything.” That observation has a lot of truth in it. But successful living also requires love and tranquility among our family members and our neighbors.
And then, on a very practical level, we need good jobs so we can comfortably support ourselves, our families and our community.
In a time of general economic crisis in our country, Hamilton County has 7.8 percent unemployment, comparing favorably with the nation’s painful jobless rate of 9.6 percent. Fortunately, we also have prospects for creating many more good jobs here.
We are still celebrating the news that the big, new Volkswagen plant, now under construction, will offer more than 2,000 good jobs.
There also have been several other local business and industrial announcements that assure additional desirable economic opportunities.
And still in the “mystery” category are reports that economic and political leaders in Hamilton and Bradley counties are courting other business prospects with the potential to create thousands more jobs. The precise nature of those prospects is unclear.
Chattanooga offers a good business climate, appealing geography, and good people who want to help make both new and old businesses successful. We want to be sure that all of our economic assets combine for the benefit of all.
Chattanooga obviously is attractive to those who are planning to make big financial investments here. But to assure success, it is important for all of us to promote not only our pleasant scenery and good business climate, but also the energy, cooperative spirit and friendliness of our people.
We have been doing all of those things pretty well, which is why most of the people in the Chattanooga area have been doing relatively well despite the recession.
It is very much in the interest of our economic growth to do all we can to make the most of our appealing assets, and for good workers to contribute their talents to make our economic efforts “pay off” for everyone’s continuing success.