The term “The Chattanooga Way” has faded from frequent use today, but in the late 1990s and early 2000s it stood for the combination of public and private support that allowed many projects around the downtown area to be developed.
With Monday’s announcement of $10 million in funds committed by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation for the planned redevelopment of the city’s riverfront, it appears “The Chattanooga Way” is alive and well.
(IN THE NEWS: BlueCross commits $10M to Chattanooga riverfront redevelopment)
Twenty-five years ago when Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker was developing the 21st Century Waterfront plan, the newly created city hotel tax was designated to pay for about half of it, and about half was to come from private donors.
The hands-on mayor led all 81 fundraising meetings where plans for the aquarium, the Hunter Museum of American Art, the children’s museum and other riverfront improvements were pitched to donors.