02.23.2024

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Today’s Forecast

66º | 21% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:18 a.m. | Sunset 6:31 p.m.

📈 Gee biz, look at these industry leaders

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?

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

Green Volkswagen Atlas in front of a Chattanooga sign. — Whether you work for these companies or use their services, these industries are leaders in our city’s economy.
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Photo by Volkswagen Atlas via Chattanooga Tourism Co.

The key industries

The following six industries represent ~72% of the Chattanooga metro area’s economy, based on data from the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce (as of 2022). We’ve listed them in order of employment numbers.

Manufacturing | 14% or 38,200 employees
Businesses like Volkswagen Chattanooga and Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling Co., among many others, help make manufacturing a major industry in the area.

Government | 13% or 36,500 employees
Government figures from the chamber include TVA and Hamilton County Schools, in addition to other local government positions.

Exterior of Erlanger hospital — Does this list surprise you?
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Photo provided by Erlanger

The major players

Now that we’ve established the major industries, we bet you’re curious for specific names. Whether you’re job hunting or just “casually prospecting,” here are seven major local employers — all that employ more than 3,000 full-time workers on average. Find more top employers here.

Employee numbers listed below indicate full-time employees.

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
6,607 employees | Health care financing | Search jobs
Tennessee’s largest health benefit plan company, BCBST offers multiple job opportunities for those in the Chattanooga area — many of which are remote.

Hamilton County Schools
5,597 employees | Elementary + secondary schools | Search jobs
From school secretary to boil system technician and substitute teacher, there are a variety of careers that help support the area’s K-12th grade students.

Erlanger
5,519 employees | Health system | Search jobs
Erlanger serves as one of five Level One Trauma Centers statewide (and the only one in our region), an academic teaching hospital, and is affiliated with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga.

This information is derived from the most recent data published by the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce.

More data this way

Asked

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

A. Amazon
B. McDonald’s
C. Walmart
D. Starbucks

Biz it right?

Events

Friday, Feb. 23

“Dragons Love Tacos” | Friday, Feb. 23-Sunday, Feb. 25 | Times vary | Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St., Chattanooga | $10-$13 | See a local production about this mythical creature’s favorite food.
Hailey Whitters | Friday, Feb. 23 | 8-11:55 p.m. | Barrelhouse Ballroom, 1501 Long St., Chattanooga | $25 | See this CMA award-winning singer hit the stage in the Scenic City on her “Can’t Tie’r Down” tour.

Saturday, Feb. 24

STEM for Her | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Gerald McCormick Center, Chattanooga State Community College, 4801 Amnicola Hwy., Chattanooga | Free, RSVP | At this event, 6th-12th grade girls can enjoy various interactive activities + gain resources within the realm of STEM.
Raccoon Mountain 5K and 10K | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Raccoon Mountain at Laurel Point Pavilion, 541 Browns Ferry Rd., Chattanooga | $15-$30 | Test your endurance with a friendly run + stick around for door prizes, a cookout, and awards.
Chakra Meditation and Mala Making | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga | $36 | Enjoy a guided Kundalini Chakra meditation before diving into Mala making and reflection time.
Black-Owned Business Expo | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Hamilton Place, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd., Chattanooga | Free+ | Shop from 40 Black-owned vendors while you walk around the mall.

Sunday, Feb. 25

Jericho Brass Band Concert | Sunday, Feb. 25 | 4-5 p.m. | Hixson First Baptist Church, 5800 Grubb Rd., Hixson | Free | Hear tunes that range from “Bach to the Beatles” in this all-ages show.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Civic

The City of Chattanooga is seeking residents to participate in testing its new website. Participants will provide feedback to help shape the site’s functionality + design for it to better serve as a comprehensive portal for city services, information, and resources. Sign up.

Traffic

Norcross Road (southbound between Ashland Terrace + Hixson Pike) will be closed today, Feb. 23 through Saturday, March 9 for utility construction. Detours will be posted.

Coming Soon

Verre Noir, the sister store to Joli Jardin, is set to open its doors on Saturday, March 30 at 36 Frazier Ave. (formerly River City Apparel). Folks can expect a “greenhouse x dark academia vibe” featuring houseplants, arts, and apothecary items.

Announced

The Hamilton County Health Department’s Dental Clinic has reopened after a three-month hiatus. Dental services are offered at the 921 E. 3rd St. location by appointment or on a walk-in basis.

Community

In case you missed it, the City of East Ridge + its Parks and Recreation Department are seeking community feedback on its sports facility feasibility survey. Folks can weigh in on the opportunities for additional sports facilities at Camp Jordan Park.

Edu

Registration for BASF’s TECH Academy is now open. This free summer program is for local area rising high school juniors and seniors interested in technical and craft careers. Learn more + register by Sunday, April 14.

Featured

McLemore, a mountain-top golf resort in nearby Rising Fawn, GA, was recently featured on Forbes’ list of top five golf resorts + destinations that are opening new courses in 2024. The resort’s new 18-hole layout called “The Keep” is set to open this fall.

Cause

East Lake Montessori (ELM) will host a spring auction on Thursday, March 7 at Mac’s Kitchen and Bar in nearby Rossville, GA. The auction will benefit ELM’s Legacy Scholarship Fund which aims to make early childhood education more accessible to local area preschoolers.

Health

Don’t trust Dr. Google — Cempa Community Care’s Primary Care services include preventative and diagnostic testing, nutritional counseling, vaccinations, women’s health services, mental health counseling + more. Schedule an appointment.*

Finance

These four credit cards offer 0% intro APR for up to 18 months — meaning that when life piles up (unexpected tax payments, medical appointments, picking up the bill for the whole table at St. John’s Restaurant, etc.) — you could have almost two years to avoid interest charges.*

Answered

Our readers’ 2024 predictions

Answered: Our readers’ 2024 predictions

What’s on your bingo card for this year? | Graphic by 6AM City

Earlier this year, we asked our readers what their predictions were for 2024 — now that we’re at the end of the year, we’re looking back to see how they panned out.

Prediction: “Temps hit 100° in June”
Outcome: June was hotter and drier than usual in the Scenic City + we saw temps hit 100° on June 26.

Prediction: “Dolly Parton concert announced”
Outcome: The Queen of Tennessee hasn’t performed in Chattanooga... yet. We saw Dolly launch Songbirds’ fall fundraising drive, so we would love to see a show announced at the venue.

Prediction: “City Cafe reopens on Broad Street in May”
Outcome: We’re choosing to check this off our Bingo card since we saw the reopening of this 24/7 cafe in 2024, just a little later in the year than predicted.

Prediction: “Featured on a Best Food list”
Outcome: Foodies were right in guessing some of Chattanooga’s restaurants would receive recognition this year — notably, Forbes recognizing the Scenic City as an under-the-radar culinary gem.

Prediction: “Walnut Street Bridge repairs get delayed until 2025"
Outcome: Another correct guess from our readers — folks can expect renovations + repairs to begin in March 2025.

Prediction: “Nominated for a best bathroom award”
Outcome: While we definitely admire some of the Scenic City’s most captivating commodes, we have yet to see an official best bathroom award nomination.

Prediction: “I-24 Interchange construction is complete”
Outcome: Alright y’all, this one was just wishful thinking. Construction is still underway on this massive project, but you can keep up to date with the project through TDOT.

One prediction we can’t account for? Whether or not your bestie subscribed to NOOGAtoday.

The Buy

The Buy 2.23.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Chips and salsa, because honestly, is there a better snack? Sobremesa’s salsa is well worth the chip dip with flavors including layered, complex Mole Poblano + spicy Smoky Salsa Oaxaqueña.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Haley

From the editor

This time of year always has me planning what type of plants I’m gonna add to my collection at home. After seeing Signal Mountain Nursery’s how-to on using its terrarium bar, I might have found a new way to spruce up those empty spaces.

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