Chamber of Commerce leading new visioning effort

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is spearheading a new visioning initiative aimed at helping cast Hamilton County’s future for the next 20 years.

Initially called “A Vision for Economic Prosperity,” the effort also will include a five-year strategic plan specifically looking at the county’s future economic and talent development path, said Christy Gillenwater, the Chamber’s president and chief executive officer.

“Now is the right time to look forward and envision 20 years from now,” said Gillenwater on Wednesday at the Chamber’s annual meeting before about 900 people.

She said an early group of about 80 people representing more than a half dozen groups in Chattanooga, including city and county government, already have met. Also, a steering committee has been formed, the Chamber CEO said.

More meetings are planned, including focus groups and the posting of a survey on a website starting next month to garner lots of public participation, Gillenwater said.

Plans are to come up with an initial visioning document by the end of November, she said. A five-year strategic plan should be ready by next April, she said.

Gillenwater said $50,000 has been raised so far for the visioning effort.

She said Chattanooga has “a rich history” of visioning, citing prior initiatives including the recently completed Thrive 2055 plan focusing on the 16-county, three-state region.

Rebecca Ryan, a Wisconsinbased futurist, will aid the process and be in Chattanooga next week, Gillenwater said.

Ryan said via video the effort will help Hamilton County “look through the windshield and not the rear-view mirror.”

Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke said that when he was growing up, the city was in decline.

“We held onto our past for too long,” he said, adding that over the past couple of decades the city has found its place.

Berke said Chattanooga has “found a way … to get things done.”

“Over the next year, we’re going to get things done again,” he said. “We have to create and re-create every day.”

Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger said more than 15,000 new jobs were created in the county over the past seven years.

Also, he said, 103 businesses expanded, resulting in a $2.6 billion capital investment. Coppinger said Hamilton County’s business incubator on Cherokee Boulevard has 63 companies employing more than 300 people. Some 568 businesses have graduated from that facility over the years, he said.

Larry Buie, the Chamber’s outgoing chairman, said Chattanooga has become “a global destination … that has reached new heights.”

But, he said, the challenge is filling the jobs created by companies in the region.

Tom Glenn, incoming board chairman, cited the work of the “educational movement” called Chattanooga 2.0, the Future Ready Institutes in Hamilton County schools and diversity efforts as key to future success.

Mick Fleming, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives’ former chief executive officer for more than 16 years, told the Chattanooga group that it’s taking on the hardest issues.

“This is our greatest generation moment. It’s our time,” said Fleming, now a partner in Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Gillenwater said the visioning initiative will reach a vital point Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 when people can visit a website and help the process connect with the community.

“Lend your voice to the discussion so we can provide the best future possible for our kids,” she said.

Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318. Follow him on Twitter @MikePareTFP.