Chattanooga Chamber Annual Report 2023-2024
Letter and Introduction
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and the greater Chattanooga business community have had a productive year as we close out an incredibly successful five-year strategic plan and commit to expand our efforts and helping Chattanooga climb higher over the next half-decade. We cannot overstate our gratitude to our partners, investors, and members for their unwavering support. Your commitment has allowed us to promote regional economic growth.
The Chattanooga Chambers’ unwavering commitment to increase economic mobility for all drives our focus on supporting education and talent development initiatives. These initiatives provide our community with the skills needed to access and attain high-wage, high-demand jobs. Our continued community partnerships have allowed us to expand student opportunities with work-based learning, career pathways, and apprenticeships.
Owning a business is one of the fastest ways to achieve economic prosperity, and we continue to support entrepreneurial endeavors with the INCubator program at the Hamilton County Business Development Center and community partnerships like Brickyard. Making the region nationally known for a start-up ecosystem where entrepreneurs can start and grow a business.
In our year ending June 30th, 2024, we added 274 new members. With programs like the Small Business Literacy series, Young Professionals of Chattanooga, and events like AM Networking and Business After Hours, we connected businesses to resources, allowing them to collaborate and prosper.
As we move into our 138th year and launch our Chattanooga Climbs Higher plan, we want to thank our members, investors, community partners, and leaders whose support enables the Chattanooga Chamber to fulfill its mission. Your efforts are key to the region’s economic prosperity. With your continued support and partnership, we can ensure Chattanooga climbs higher.
Economic Development
Economic Development is part of the Chamber’s DNA. It aligns with our purpose of building a thriving Chattanooga and our mission to promote regional economic growth. Over the past five years, your Chamber’s economic development team has made significant progress with Chattanooga Climbs, creating high-quality jobs, developing talent for an emerging economy, and ensuring equitable access to regional prosperity.
In collaboration with our partners, we facilitated the creation of 4,502 jobs and secured over $1.4 billion in capital investment during the five-year Chattanooga Climbs initiative.
Key projects that contributed to our collective progress included Nippon Paint’s location to East Chattanooga, Steam Logistics’ new downtown headquarters, SK Foods’ new facility in Cleveland and iFixit’s redevelopment in the Onion Bottom neighborhood in downtown Chattanooga. Hamilton County’s existing businesses, including NOVONIX, McKee Foods, HomeServe, Roadtec, and Kordsa also played a significant role in helping us reach our goals.
We also helped Hamilton County sell the last publicly owned parcels in Center South Industrial Park. Centre South Riverport Industrial Park is also now fully occupied with the new location of Confluent Medical and the expansions of Southern Champion Tray, Nichols Fleet, Hudson Materials, and Silvey Metal Works.
Chattanooga Climbs: 5-Year Impact
Results
5,000 Total Jobs
$1 Billion Capital Investment
$55,000 Average Wage
$500 Million New Payroll
20 Target Locations
100 Prospect Visits
500 Business Retention Meetings
500 Acres of Greenfield & Brownfield Sites Evaluated
Economic Development Highlights FY 2023-24
Conducted 167 meetings with existing companies: 96% in targeted industries
Submitted 18 formal Requests for Information (RFIs) to site selection consultants
Coordinated 8 site visits for companies in a variety of industries
Collaborated with Greater Chattanooga Economic Partnership (GCEP) partners to support prospect/site visits in multiple counties
Added 63 new projects to our economic development pipeline
Continued to provide support for The Bend/One Westside and the North River Commerce Center TIFs
In collaboration with Hamilton County, secured $4.5 million in funding for McDonald Farm water infrastructure
Announced economic activity in the Chattanooga Foreign Trade Zone of nearly $5 billion
Foreign Trade Zone-related employment was 5,500 and related exports were valued at over $1 billion
Submitted TVA Invest Prep grant application for additional McDonald Farm infrastructure funding
Added La-Z-Boy Furniture in Dayton, TN as a Zone Operator and working with two new potential operators
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The INCubator has been building business for 35 years, with over 650 businesses graduating into the community, combining to add over 4,500 jobs. One of the INC’s recent graduates, Cocoa Asante, saw a spike in sales after being discovered by TikTok influencer Keith Lee. Founded in 2018, the company specializes in truffles, bars, and bonbons with cacao sourced from Ghana. The company experienced a massive sales boost when the TikTok review went viral, leading to 3.8 million views and causing the brand to sell out in under 45 minutes. This success allowed founder Ella Livingston to quit her part-time job and focus solely on her startup. Eventually, the company graduated from the INCubator, moved to a larger production space, and doubled its team. Now, Livingston provides health insurance and other benefits to her employees, showcasing how community support and social media can drive small business success.
Chattanooga Climbs: 5-Year Impact
Results
10 POC Founders in the INCubator
100 INCubator Clients
100 INCubator Graduates
The INCubator, housed at the Hamilton County Business Development Center, is experiencing an upsurge in successful new start-ups. The operation located on Chattanooga’s Northshore, is home to 42 start-ups in these sectors:
- Food and Beverage
- Software and Technology
- Creative Media
- Service
- Manufacturing
Diversity and Inclusive Growth
Your Chattanooga Chamber believes that a community grows economically when everyone has a seat at the table.
This year, the Chamber continued our Diversity and Inclusive Growth efforts by connecting local companies with diverse suppliers. Including a certification partnership with the City of Chattanooga, as part of a formal MBE process.
Beyond making these vital connections, the Chamber is also focused on equipping diverse, small-business owners with the tools they need to succeed through our business literacy series.
Along with thought leadership and community engagement, such as our annual Diversify summit, your Chattanooga Chamber continues to lead the way toward an inclusive economy where prosperity is shared by all.
Education and Talent Development
Your Chattanooga Chamber continues to support education and talent development through Chattanooga 2.0.
In the past year, Chattanooga 2.0 helped to grow and develop our local workforce across three key pillars.
Early Childhood Education: We believe that the best way to ensure lifelong learning is with early intervention. These efforts can set children up for success, later in life.
Literacy: A student’s ability to read and comprehend is directly proportional to their success in both school and later in life. It is such an important step on the education journey that Chattanooga 2.0 has dedicated significant resources to improving literacy in our local schools.
Viable Career Pathways: Building the workforce of tomorrow, means providing Chattanoogans with viable pathways into in-demand jobs. That means creating learning opportunities both in the classroom and on the job.
Chattanooga Climbs: 5-Year Impact
Progress to date
200 Employers Engaged in Future Ready Institutes
250 Employers Participating in Work-Based Learning
500 Registered Apprentices
28 Branded Future Ready Institutes
29 registered apprenticeships made available to local employers
10 local employers created new apprenticeship programs
Over 200 individuals signed up for apprenticeship opportunities
Hamilton County EMS and Hixson High School form formal partnership for students to explore careers in emergency medicine
100k to support short-term training programs in manufacturing
27 individuals completed training and received certificates in either Welding or Logistics
50k to support development of youth apprenticeship programs
45k to support industry credentials in manufacturing while diversifying the manufacturing workforce
500k to build strategy addressing the prime-age employment gap in East Lake and South Chattanooga
Chattanooga 2.0
139 caregivers took kindergarten survey
91,285 total reach of 6-week Kindergarten social campaign with 98% views in Hamilton County
5 speaking engagements on early childhood
112 child care teachers participated in unique workforce training with 879 professional development hours
72 child care teachers supported with tuition assistance
630 hours spent by community partners in meetings dedicated to early childhood
2,980 unique views of new Kindergarten Ready Resource webpage
33 East Side Elementary students tutored
50% more progress on decoding for tutored East Side Elementary students
1,455 books and activity sheets distributed to 485 Soddy Elementary students through Family Reads
406 students reached at 6 afterschool sites by new out-of- school time K-12 literacy toolkit
26-member literacy council established
24 Hardy Elementary students with significant reading challenges served
80 Children under age 5 received 240 books written in K’iche’, Mam, or Q’anjob’al through Roads to Reading
83% families report more literacy-centered conversations due to Family Reads
10 young adults enrolled in WIOA federal funding, >$30k workforce training dollars received
100% retention of 20 trainees learning welding and soft skills for jobs in Hamilton County
4 Viable Pathways to prosperity underway for local youth On- track to 10 by 2026
27 applicants for WIOA funding 20 eligible applicants 10 received enrollment and funds
3 WIOA mass enrollments at focus high schools for pathways with 2 more scheduled for July 2025
19 recruits and counting for September cohort of lineworking pathway
$13-15M economic impact through current viable pathways trainees and alums through lifetime earnings
30 innovative apprenticeships in tech
4 apprentices hired into data analysis pathway
Public Policy
We aim to establish a more cooperative policy agenda that positions your Chattanooga Chamber as the active advocate for member businesses and regional economic growth. To promote these objectives, our agenda includes the following points.
Given demographic changes and the well-documented talent drain, diversity and inclusion serve as critical strategies to expand talent pipelines, build the workforce, and drive market development in the region.
Enhancing our region’s economy and supporting sustainable community development are central to our mission. To ensure ongoing regional prosperity, we back projects that improve quality of life, making Chattanooga more appealing for living, working, visiting, and business growth.
One of the most impactful ways to bolster our region’s workforce is through sound education policy. From early childhood education to specific workforce development programs, we support legislation that equips our education system with the flexibility needed to meet current and future workforce demands.
Chattanooga prides itself on its abundant outdoor activities and natural resources. We endorse initiatives aimed at maintaining Chattanooga as a clean and attractive environment for both residents and visitors.
It is no secret that Chattanooga’s geographic location positions it as a gateway to the rest of the United States. It is essential that Tennessee, and specifically Chattanooga, invest in infrastructure that helps businesses and our economy thrive.
Dedicated to building and attracting a world-class workforce, we will advocate for policies and innovative programs that continue to provide our citizens with the skills and opportunities necessary for success in the 21st-century economy.
Monitored 130 pieces of legislation and actively supported the Governor’s Franchise Tax Cut legislation
Signed on to letters supporting Chattanooga’s efforts to expand passenger rail to the city, early childhood education funding, and concerns with a recent ARPA bill
Hosted 8 Chamber Chatts, Legislative Kickoff, Legislative Wrap-up with WTCI, Federal Focus with Congressman Fleischmann and Senator Blackburn
Hosted joint Hamilton County Commission/Chattanooga City Council Meeting
Supported South Broad and The Bend developments through organized meetings with elected officials and convening stakeholders
Membership
During FY 2023-24, our members gained access to valuable resources and opportunities, contributing significantly to the overall prosperity and sustainability of the Chattanooga community. This success was achieved through enhanced business participation, establishing new relationships, attending events, leadership opportunities, sponsorships, member discounts, and visibility in the Chamber’s business directory. Additionally, members posted news items and benefited from savings through member discounts and Chamber programs.
With over 200 events each year, including councils, networking opportunities, and signature events, our members connected with fellow members, potential customers, city and county officials, and the broader community. Many members developed their professional skills and gave back to the community by volunteering as council board members or Chamber Ambassadors.
The Chamber’s mission of championing our members is as important now as it was when we were founded in 1887.
Investor Relations
5 Chattanooga Climbs update meetings with 150 attendees overall
4 Top Investor events with 230 attendees overall
100% retention of Signature Event sponsors (33 sponsors)
Events
Councils
During fiscal year 2023-24, the Hixson Council hosted its largest expo yet, with more than 40 vendors and 160 attendees. The Enterprise/Gateway Council partnered with the Job Center to host a job fair featuring 30 vendors and attracting 150 participants. The East Brainerd Council partnered with WTCI to host Chat with the Mayors, a televised Q&A featuring City of Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly and Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp. Several councils also made significant contributions to their local schools and other community organizations. Additionally, Ooltewah/Collegedale hosted three highly successful business roundtables.
These efforts reflect our commitment to fostering community engagement and business growth, reinforcing our shared goal of building a thriving, sustainable community.
Ambassador of The Year
Vaughn Berger truly embodies what it means to be an ambassador through his unwavering dedication to serving others. As a loyal Chamber volunteer for almost a decade, he has generously invested his time to advance the Chamber’s mission of supporting member businesses while promoting regional economic growth. Whether celebrating members at ribbon-cutting ceremonies or personally checking in on members, Vaughn’s commitment is evident.
Vaughn has also been a mentor to new ambassadors, teaching them the program’s standards and inspiring a commitment to quality and teamwork that enhances the program. This year, he has played a crucial role in driving key changes within the ambassador program while serving as its president.
Recognizing his outstanding contributions, Vaughn Berger has been honored as the Ambassador of the Year. His steadfast dedication and leadership have not only strengthened the Chamber community but also inspired many to follow in his footsteps.
Being an ambassador means meeting new people, building relationships, and having fun. I’ve made great friends and built a huge network over the years. It has been a great investment of my time and effort.
Council of the Year
The Chattanooga Chamber’s Councils are the backbone of the Chamber’s volunteer presence. The Councils support businesses in specific geographic areas and business sectors within our community, providing opportunities for members to solve problems, discuss issues, and support events and civic projects that benefit businesses, schools, and more within the Council’s footprint. These councils are crucial to the Chamber’s work, and this year, one council was a standout with their tremendous strides to impact their community.
This council organized the delivery of snack carts to five schools in the council’s area and partnered with the Hamilton County School Foundation to create a care closet for students in a local school. The council also created a Chat with the Mayors event, raising two thousand dollars to help continue their support of community programs.
With outstanding programs like these and numerous others, this year’s Chattanooga Chamber Council of the Year is the East Brainerd Council.
