Despite the widespread economic disruption the pandemic launched, forcing thousands of small businesses to shut their doors, American entrepreneurship has skyrocketed. Americans are starting new businesses at the fastest rate in more than a decade, per the Wall Street Journal, and we're seeing that play out locally too, especially in our Hamilton County INCubator.

The magic of the holidays looks and feels different this year. It's more difficult to hold our loved ones as closely or be present in the way we'd like. Despite the glooms and dooms of this year, the upcoming holidays make for an especially important time to celebrate family, the close people in our lives, and the love and support that have gotten us through this year.

It's November — the month of heading into the holiday season, indulging in festive Thanksgiving food and being intentional when it comes to gratitude and giving back. The giving part of the season is even more important in a year like 2020, with a pandemic that has challenged us in many ways, including economically. Pew Research Center says the unemployment rate may have gone as high as 16% during the COVID-19 pandemic, by the U.S. government's estimate. With that comes additional food insecurity for people across the country.

Chris Ramsey and LaQuentin Jenkins, founders of Simple Choice PPE Solutions, represent underserved communities in the Chattanooga area who were hit hardest by the pandemic.

These days everyone is talking about the next moonshot, that big transformational idea that will put human colonies on Mars, create lithium-ion batteries to power cars for more than a million miles and solve global warming through dispersion of specially engineered sun-blocking particles into the air.

What front-line heroes have four legs and a tail? Gracie the Goat, Porky the Pig and Dopey the Cat are a few. From farm animals to family pets, local organizations like Hospice of Chattanooga, Alleo Health System, McKamey Animal Center and Erlanger Health System work with volunteers to provide pet therapy in our community.

Open concept. Agile office design. Cubicles. Co-working space. Quiet rooms. Sit/stand desks

As your Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, we strive to be a voice for local businesses and support our community, especially in the face of challenges.

Technology has changed nearly every major U.S. industry.

Valoria Armstrong, VP, National Government and Regulatory Affairs at American Water, steps in this month as the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce 2020-21 Board Chair.

Walking into Okunade Law, LLC, fatigued families are struck by a sense of home.

Businesses around the country have released virtual tourism experiences for Americans who are social distancing and settling into a new normal.

In the world of higher education, spring is an exciting time to dream about summer plans. For many students, summer is an opportunity to put classroom knowledge to the test in the real world. This year, students and professors everywhere have shifted their plans as the world navigates COVID-19.

From recognition as one of seven Tennessee companies committed to LGBTQ inclusion to supporting two of Hamilton County's 28 Future Ready Institutes, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee consistently marries beneficial business practices with supporting people in our community.

With the help of Mayor Andy Berke's office, the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce and The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, a group of UTC students keeps the legacies of Ed Johnson and Styles L. Hutchins alive. Known as the Styles L. Hutchins Fellows, they've crafted a plan to retain and attract diverse talent.

The Tennessee Valley Authority has been making a difference since the 1930s when the agency began its work to tame a river and spread prosperity to one of the poorest regions in the nation.

Hosted by the Chattanooga Chamber, EXPO Chattanooga is the largest showcase of local products and services and draws hundreds of key business decision-makers and more than 2,000 attendees each year.

Passion for better, more sustainable or more transparent products and processes inspire hard-working Chattanoogans to embrace entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs are scrappy, using every resource and spare minute to propel their business forward.

Digital agency Viget has announced Chattanooga and Hamilton County as the company's newest office location, with plans to eventually hire 25 local employees.

The Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce and a volunteer-led committee recently honored both Chattanooga Whiskey and FreightWaves as 2019 Spirit of Innovation Award recipients, the second tie in the award's nearly 20-year history.

Crisp air conjures sugar plum visions, and you're feeling festive.

Being a small business owner is difficult and rewarding. You are the CEO, the marketing department, the accountant and more. In the midst of your never ending to-do list, you need to hire employees.

Growing up, my family didn't go for beach vacations.