Chattanooga Business 101

Leading industries and employers in the Chattanooga metro area

Wide shot of Chattanooga spanning both sides of the bridge during the spring/summer months

We’re diving into the some of Chattanooga’s top employers. | Photo by @emilylesterphotography

More than 562,600 people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Chattanooga metro area’s economy. But have you ever wondered about the Scenic City’s heaviest hitters?

Consider this Chattanooga Business 101 — your guide to some of our region’s key industries and major employers.

Note: When we say the Chattanooga metro area, that refers to Hamilton, Marion, and Sequatchie counties in TN + Catoosa, Dade, and Walker counties in GA.

The key industries

The following six industries represent ~72% of the Chattanooga metro area’s economy, based on data from Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. We’ve listed them in order of employment numbers.

Government | 14% or 36,500 employees

Government figures from the chamber of commerce include TVA and Hamilton County Schools, in addition to other local government positions.

Manufacturing | 13% or 35,600 employees

Businesses like Volkswagen Chattanooga and McKee Foods Corp., among others, help make manufacturing a major industry in the area.

Educational & Health Services | 13% or 34,400 employees

With organizations like Erlanger Health System and CHI Memorial being two of the top five major employers in the area, it’s no secret that Educational & Health Services is a key local industry.

Professional & Business Services | 11% or 28,400 employees

Everything from accounting and law firms to banks and marketing agencies fall under this umbrella.

Leisure & Hospitality | 11% or 27,900 employees

The estimated 15+ million people who visit the area each year — and their ~$1.5 billion in spending, according to the Chattanooga Tourism Co. — have played a major role in this sector’s growth.

Retail Trade | 10% or 27,600 employees

The retail trade industry includes establishments that sell products and after-sale services related to these products, such as cleaning or repair.

MEET THE MAJOR PLAYERS

Test your business knowledge: Which company employs the most people globally?

A. Amazon
B. McDonalds
C. Walmart
D. Starbucks

TAKIN' CARE OF QUIZ-NESS

Click here to have your event featured.

Today, Jan. 25

TRY Archery! | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | 3-5:15 p.m. | Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St., Chattanooga | Free | Try this free drop-in archery class for all ages to learn a new skill this year.

Thursday, Jan. 26

Mixology 101: Vodka | Thursday, Jan. 26 | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga | $35 | In this cocktail class, discuss, make, and taste drinks inspired by vodka.
Next Level Comedy Showcase | Thursday, Jan. 26 | 7:30 p.m. | The Comedy Catch at The Choo Choo, 29 Station St., Chattanooga | $12 | Watch a showcase of comics who are chosen based on their rising status in the comedy industry — this show is rated R.

Friday, Jan. 27

The Artist’s Table | Friday, Jan. 27 | 6:30-10:30 p.m. | Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View Ave., Chattanooga | $350 | Enjoy an evening of culinary exploration through the work of Chef Kevin Ramquist of The Unicorn Nashville, a docent-led gallery tour, and more.
THE TAYLOR PARTY: TAYLOR SWIFT NIGHT | Friday, Jan. 27 | 9 p.m. | The Signal, 1810 Chestnut St., Chattanooga | $20 | This 18+ event is for all the Swifties out there — especially those mourning the whole Ticketmaster debacle.

Saturday, Jan. 28

A Cold One Beer Fest | Saturday, Jan. 28 | 12-5 p.m. | Moxy Chattanooga Downtown, 1220 King St., Chattanooga | $12-$45 | Enjoy an incredible selection of craft beers and cider while listening to live music at this event.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

54º | Scattered showers | 70% chance of rain 🌧️

Transit

Work to provide new freeway access to + from Hamilton Place Mall is slated to begin in the summer, according to TDOT. The project will expand the interchange “to a full access facility by providing for an I-75 South exit to Hamilton Place Boulevard, and I-75 North access from Hamilton Place Boulevard.” (Chattanoogan.com)

Closed

Chattanooga’s Parks & Outdoors Department announced that Miracle Playground at Warner Park (located at 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave.) will be closed until further notice for maintenance + repairs.

Sports

Looking to try something new this year? Nooga Rugby will host its first practice of the season on Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 7-9 p.m. at Montague Park. All are invited to join, and no experience is required. 🏉

Cause

Tickets and tables for Erlanger’s Believe Bash on April 29 are on sale now. This year’s gala theme is “Hollywood: The Golden Age,” and will feature a cocktail reception, gourmet dining experience, live auction, and more. Funds from the gala will continue to support the Children’s Hospital at Erlanger.

Outdoors

The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced a ruling to protect 104 miles of rivers in Tennessee + Virginia under the Endangered Species Act. The protected rivers (including nearby Sequatchie River) are a critical habitat for the sickle darter, a species that is currently under threat. (Local 3)

Pets

McKamey Animal Center will host Dining for Paws Feb. 16-19. Participating businesses will donate a portion of their sales to support MAC during the event — if your business is interested in joining, applications will be accepted until 12 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9. 🐾

Job

Tennessee American Water will offer 25 remote Customer Care Agent job opportunities to residents of Chattanooga + the surrounding areas. Those interested can apply online — pro tip: the open positions can be filtered by narrowing the search field to jobs within Chattanooga. 💧

Eat

Don’t just eat better — eat the best. Sunbasket’s meal kit service delivers delicious, healthy meals created by award-winning chefs straight to your front door. Bonus: NOOGAtoday readers can get $100 off their first four deliveries and more when they sign up. 🍽️ *

Wellness

If one of your 2023 goals is to create more time for self care and relaxation, an acupressure mat is a must. The mats are designed to stimulate pressure points to relieve tension, decrease stress levels, and increase circulation. This ProsourceFit full body mat includes neck support.*

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Old McDonald had a... neo-traditional neighborhood called The Farmstead

New local neo-traditional neighborhood coming: The Farmstead

The Farmstead community seeks to encourage interaction among neighbors. | Rendering provided by Waterhouse PR

That’s how the song goes, right?

GreenTech Homes, a Hamilton County master planned community builder, recently launched a “neo-traditional community.”

The Farmstead, a Hixson neighborhood with a neo-traditional design (aka new urbanism), uses the planning principle that contrasts a typical suburban environment.

How? Neo-traditional designs are often more compact communities that are walkable, bikeable, and close to home and work. The Farmstead in particular will feature:

Centralized clubhouse with a full kitchen + exercise equipment
“Resort-style” pool
Dog park
Pickleball court
Community plaza
Fire pit zones
Food truck hook-ups
Green spaces
Lamp-lit sidewalks

Phase one of The Farmstead is currently under construction, and will include 80 homes (with 240 homes planned in total).

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Brianna.

Editor’s pick: Don’t mind me, I’m still just sitting in shock after learning that honeybees have five — yes, five — eyes after reading this post by local beekeeper Carmen Joyce. I’ll be(e) darned.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? You’ll love what’s going on for the day of love.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Brianna Williams, Kristen Templeton, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Sarah Edwards | Advertise with us.

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