Economic Development

Throughout the past 12 months, your Chamber’s economic development team has continued its mission to drive economic development and create sustainable opportunities for our region. In collaboration with our partners, we supported the announcement of 1,355 jobs and more than $320 million in capital investment this fiscal year.

Key projects that contributed to our collective progress included iFixit’s downtown redevelopment of the Onion Bottom neighborhood in downtown Chattanooga and SK Food Group’s new facility in Cleveland. Chattanooga’s existing businesses – including Steward Advanced Materials, Textile Printing & Packaging and Kordsa Inc. – played a significant role in helping us reach our goals.

North River Commerce Center

Chattanooga Climbs Key Performance Indicators To-Date (Progress to date-Jul 2019-Jun 2023)

$1 Billion Capital Investment
142%
$500 Million New Payroll
83%
$55,000 Average Wage
92%
20 Target Locations
95%
5,000 Total Jobs
90%
500 Acres of Greenfield & Brownfield Sites Evaluated
497%
100 Prospect Visits
54%

Chattanooga Climbs Project Announcements (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023)

Company Name
Product/Service
New
 Jobs
Investment
Project
Type

iFixit

Distribution / back-office repair tools & parts

201

$24,200,000

New

SK Food Group

Mfr. prepared foods

840

$205,000,000

New

Steward Advanced Materials

Mfr. metal & ceramic powders

24

$20,000,000

Expansion

Textile Printing & Packaging

Mfr. packaging & printing

90

$21,000,000

Expansion

Kordsa Inc.

Mfr. Nylon

200

$50,000,000

Expansion

Target sector projects contributed 78% of capital investment and 79% of new direct jobs. Two non-target sector projects accounted for $71 million in capital investment and nearly 300 jobs.

Other Chattanooga Climbs Activities (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023)

Talent Development

Viewing Talent Development through a lens of economic growth for Chattanooga, we invested in projects that prepare students for high quality jobs, develop skills for the new economy, and increase regional prosperity for all community members.

Chattanooga Climbs Key Performance Indicators To-Date (Progress to date-Jul 2019-Jun 2023)

200 Employers Participating in Future Ready Institutes
81%
250 Employers Participating in Apprenticeship, Work-Based Learning and Internships
38%
28 Branded Future Ready Institutes
50%
500 Registered Apprentices
225%

Chattanooga was chosen by BuildWithin as an Apprenticeship Innovation Hub and the Chamber is thrilled to house BuildWithin as they continue to expand apprenticeship opportunities in Chattanooga. This platform will increase Hamilton County students’ access to career exploration and eases the employers’ responsibility in sponsoring apprenticeship programs.

The Chamber was awarded a second round of funding from New America as a member of the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeships (PAYA), which provides Hamilton County Schools resources and best practices in developing youth apprenticeships.

Future Ready Institutes continue to be a high priority and we were thrilled to announce Coca-Cola Bottling’s commitment to Hamilton County Schools with the creation of the Coca-Cola Institute of Business at Hixson High School. Partnerships like this are critical as we work to prepare students for the economy of tomorrow. Watch the video below to learn more about how Future Ready Institutes help build a skilled and technical workforce.

Entrepreneurship

The INCubator, housed at the Hamilton County Business Development Center and managed by the Chattanooga Chamber, experienced an upsurge in successful new start-ups and boasts an astonishing 95% occupancy rate for manufacturing space and an 80% occupancy overall.

Chattanooga Climbs Key Performance Indicators To-Date (Progress to date-Jul 2019-Jun 2023)

10 POC Founders in the INCubator
160%
100 INCubator Clients
68%
100 INCubator Graduates
53%

TThe INCubator, located on Chattanooga’s Northshore, is home to 46 start-ups that provide over 250 jobs in these sectors:

  • Food and Beverage
  • Software and Technology
  • Outdoor Products
  • Creative Media
  • Service
  • Manufacturing

Graduates Continue to Grow, Adding Jobs in Hamilton County

The INCubator has been building business for more than 34 years, with over 600 businesses graduating into the community, combining to add over 4,500 jobs.

One of the most recent graduates, Hoff & Pepper, started in the INCubator with two employees in 800 square feet. The small batch hot sauces that gave a spicy aroma to the INC’s hallways are now sold in thousands of retail locations across the country. Today, Hoff & Pepper and their 30 employees have moved out into the community and operate out of a 40,000 square foot building.

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Chattanooga Chamber Annual Report 2023