The CHATTANOOGA

Success Story

University Economic

Development Association Summit

October 23, 2012

J. Wayne Cropp, President and CEO

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Fourth largest city in Tennessee Population nearly 300,000 Located on banks of the

Tennessee River Mountains, ridges and lakes

Chattanooga1900’s – History – Dynamo of Dixie

Chattanooga1969 – Recognized as Having Worst Air Quality in the Country

Walter Cronkite

US HEW Report 1/1969

Chattanooga 1988 – Compliance with all National Air Quality Standards

1st Metro Area in USA to achieve Ozone Standards from Non-Attainment Status Worst-to-First Environmental Turn Around Story

• Community at a crossroads

• Losing jobs

• Downtown empty after work hours

• Pioneered public visioning process

Create a dynamic downtown area

Re-connect with the Tennessee River

Chattanooga Story: 1980 - 1990

1980s: Riverfront Ghost Town

1990s: Tennessee Aquarium

Today: Tennessee Aquarium

North Chattanooga: ThenNorth Chattanooga: Then

North Chattanooga: NowNorth Chattanooga: Now

Now

Brownfields Then

Chattanooga Story: 1990 - 2005

PROBLEM: Tourism up but few new companies emerge

Slower than average job growth

Slower than average population growth

RESPONSE:

City and County create Enterprise South

Chamber launches public-private job creation partnership

Chattanooga Story: 2005-2012

PROBLEM: Manufacturing Moves Off-Shore

RESPONSE:

The Enterprise Center Leads Technology Initiatives

EPB “Connects” the Community

• To the “Smart Grid”

• To the Internet – North America’s Fastest and Broadest Connection

• 1970s: Clean Air Partnership

• 1980s: Visioning

• 1990s: Downtown Revitalization

• 2000s: 21st Century Waterfront & Enterprise South

History of Public-Private PartnershipHistory of Public-Private Partnership

• 2010s: EPB Connects Chattanooga to the GIG

Chattanooga