“Chattanooga Climbs” five-year plan places major emphasis on entrepreneurship, innovation
The Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce has released its new five-year strategic plan under the “Chattanooga Climbs” mantra, and support for entrepreneurship is one of the major goals.
In the case of entrepreneurship, the goal is stated this way: “Chattanooga and Hamilton County’s entrepreneurial momentum hits a new high – with start-ups and small businesses driving economic growth.” Priorities for the next five years on the start-up scene include:
- Increasing access to capital and resources to support entrepreneurs and small businesses – especially traditionally disadvantaged business enterprises, defined later as a $10 to $20 million local fund;
- Launching a campaign to attract entrepreneurs and amplify the Innovation District’s potential;
- Celebrating local entrepreneurs and innovators;
- Building partnerships between established businesses and entrepreneurs to drive innovation;
- Accelerating R&D at local institutions, specifically the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga;
- Creating innovative solutions to urban challenges through the “Chattanooga Smart Community Collaborative,” which researches, develops, and tests, smart city applications; and
- Harnessing the power of innovation to secure Chattanooga’s place in the 21st century economy.
Other major pillars of the “Chattanooga Climbs” initiative include:
- “Future Ready” which is defined as Chattanooga and Hamilton County residents having the skills necessary to sustain productive careers and a high quality of life;
- “Mobility for All” which is defined as Chattanooga and Hamilton County’s economy is teeming with high-quality jobs accessible to all residents; and
- “Inclusive Economy, Collaborative Leaders” which is defined as Chattanooga and Hamilton County leaders engaging in transparent dialogue with the community and encouraging civic engagement among all residents.
You can learn more by reading the executive summary (Chattanooga Climbs Executive_Summary).
