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Chattanooga riverfront redevelopment has secured about $38M in public, private funds

Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp speaks during the River City Co.'s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp speaks during the River City Co.'s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel. Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp speaks during the River City Co.'s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.

By Sam Still 5 min read

Planners working on the multimillion-dollar redevelopment of Chattanooga’s downtown riverfront have raised over half the funds needed for the project.

Amid the clank and clatter of plates and cutlery, River City Co. announced the progress of its capital campaign for the riverfront project at a Tuesday celebration luncheon held in honor of the downtown development nonprofit’s 40th anniversary.

River City Co. has set a goal to raise $25 million from the private sector for the project and has already secured just over $13 million toward that goal in three months, according to the capital campaign chair, Ward Davenport.

Chattanooga riverfront redevelopment has secured about $38M in public, private funds

Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Downtown riverfront development campaign Chair Ward Davenport speaks during the River City Co.'s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Downtown riverfront development campaign Chair Ward Davenport speaks during the River City Co.’s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / President and CEO Emily Mack speaks during the River City Co.'s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / President and CEO Emily Mack speaks during the River City Co.’s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Attendees of the River City Co.'s 40th anniversary celebration sit and eat at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Attendees of the River City Co.’s 40th anniversary celebration sit and eat at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / A slide from the River City Co.'s power point presentation is shown during the organization's 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / A slide from the River City Co.’s power point presentation is shown during the organization’s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Crystalline Entertainment owner Chrystal Parker stands on stilts before the River City Co.'s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Crystalline Entertainment owner Chrystal Parker stands on stilts before the River City Co.’s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / President and CEO Emily Mack speaks during the River City Co.'s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / President and CEO Emily Mack speaks during the River City Co.’s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly speaks during the River City Co.'s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly speaks during the River City Co.’s 40th anniversary celebration at the Westin hotel.

The riverfront project has received a combined $25 million in public funding from the state, city and Hamilton County. The private sector funds support the completion of the project as well as the establishment of a maintenance fund for the park, Davenport told the packed house at the luncheon.

Some of the private sector contributions, to name a few, come from EPB, Volkswagen, Unum, DeFoor brothers and Vision Hospitality Group, according to River City Co.’s presentation.