1/26/2009

Mayor Littlefield Addresses Pachyderm Club

Chattanooga, Tennessee – Chattanooga has a history of turning the worst of times into the best of times, Mayor Ron Littlefield told the Chattanooga Pachyderm Club at their meeting today.  “In 1982, Chattanooga was flat on its back as the nation wrestled with economic transition”, said Mayor Littlefield.  “Out of the challenges of that time came Chattanooga Venture and Vision 2000 and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Mayor Littlefield related how challenges had been met and promises kept during his administration.  He noted that through partnerships with the county and chamber of commerce and through teamwork at all levels of government, Chattanooga has landed industries as diverse as nuclear industry supplier Alstom Power and Volkswagen.  Also, he said that a host of new and existing businesses have been persuaded to locate, expand, and create jobs through tax incentives and other inducements.

Regarding the current economic crisis and the proposed federal response, Mayor Littlefield stated that the city is prepared and is taking the necessary steps to tap into considerable federal funding that will be made available.  He referenced the “green tint” of the federal effort and stated that an Office of Sustainability, proposed after a year-long study by the 14 member Mayor’s Green Committee, will be a channel for new funding coming to the city.  “In the past four years, we have successfully obtained $1 million in brownfield funds and we will be exploring all new financing opportunities to secure additional projects that are energy and environmentally friendly,” Mayor Littlefield added.  The current federal proposal contains more than $30 billion for such efforts.