Entrepreneurial Livable Community Award
For the community’s entrepreneurial spirit in its transformation to become a model for sustainable development and prosperity today.
At th
e height of its manufacturing heyday in the 1950s and ‘60s, Chattanooga was often listed among the top ten industrial cities in the United States. This success, however, eventually gave way to an unfortunate accolade: in October of 1969 on an evening news broadcast, Walter Cronkite announced to the country that Chattanooga, Tennessee had been named the “Dirtiest City in America.” Over 40 years later, the city’s bustling downtown and sparkling riverfront are now destinations for visitors and residents alike. Through the work of dedicated citizens and effective public/private partnerships, Chattanooga now boasts a clean environment and a quality of life matched by few other communities. Mr. Cronkite’s announcement was a stern wakeup call for the city. Chattanooga residents quickly approved the formation of several clean-up efforts such as the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau. No sooner had the smog begun to clear than the city faced its next tough challenge. The severe recession of the 1970s and ‘80s hit industrial cities such as Chattanooga particularly hard and the continued loss of jobs was a problem that called for the energy and focus of citizens and government alike.
In the winter of 1985, a newly formed citizens group called Chattanooga Venture hosted six public forums entitled “Vision 2000” revolving around the themes of future alternatives, places, play, work, people, and government. Open to all, these forums attracted over 1,000 residents and established a set of goals for the city’s improvement that set in motion an unprecedented revitalization effort that has yet to cease.
In the decades following these public forums, the city and county have developed an extensive greenway system including five miles of constructed riverwalk beginning downtown and winding through the historic art district and several parks. Two centrally located, state of the art recreation centers have opened up opportunities for physical activity to residents of all ages. When the 120-year-old Walnut Street Bridge was no longer suitable for automobile traffic, it was converted into the world’s longest pedestrian bridge, connecting downtown to the north shore. In 1998, the University of Tennessee and the city worked together to build the 20,000-seat Max Finley Stadium. The city also supports a downtown shuttle fleet of zero-emission electric buses—manufactured in Chattanooga—for commuters and visitors wishing to park-and-ride.
With continued revitalization efforts and an ever-increasing stock of cultural amenities, Chattanooga has become one of the most livable and vibrant cities in the country. The unique partnerships between city and citizenry, public and private entities, to improve local quality of life have transformed Chattanooga, Tennessee into a national model of sustainable growth and regional prosperity.