Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) the City of Chattanooga is receiving funds through “formula grants” for certain purposes defined in the ARRA. The City, in cooperation with any number of local organizations, is also pursuing ARRA funded “competitive grants” to help implement local economic development and sustainability strategies.

ARRA funds are for, just as the title says, “recovery” and “reinvestment.” The Obama administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is to stimulate economic recovery by “maintaining essential services” and “eliminating the backlog of well-planned, worthy and needed infrastructure projects.” The plan also includes reinvestment in the “high tech, high wage jobs of the future,” including jobs in a “clean energy economy.”

As one of the country’s most progressive cities, Chattanooga and its economic and community development partners are positioned to be a leader in the effective use of federal recovery and reinvestment funding. To make the most of this opportunity, cooperation on a city, county, and regional level is crucial. We know from experience that success follows teamwork.

For that reason, I have created a new task force representing key City agencies and partners to capture and effectively utilize federal resources for local economic development and community sustainability. The Task Force on Federal Resources has adopted the mission of developing “a new approach to federal funding, leveraging new funding opportunities with City commitments to economic development and sustainability.”

In keeping with ARRA “Accountability and Transparency” provisions the City will use this web page to provide information to you on the City’s uses ARRA funds.