The Scenic City is great for business. A myriad of resources aimed specifically at business owners and corporations is bolstered by a prime location, favorable tax climate, fastest internet in the world, most resilient smart grid in the nation, and stunning natural beauty that attracts top talent. Startups, small businesses, and large corporations alike find success in Chattanooga and work to simultaneously grow their business and the community.

In fact, MarketWatch named Chattanooga as one of the 15 best U.S. cities to launch a business in, and the city has already surpassed many of the goals set forth in the Chattanooga Climbs growth plan. Among those goals was attracting $1 billion in capital investments to the area and adding 5,000 new jobs. The major strides in job growth can be further illustrated through the area’s unemployment numbers. In April of 2020 amidst the pandemic, the jobless rate peaked at 13.6% – a number that dropped to a record low of 2.6% as of April 2023.

Helping to combat high unemployment numbers was the addition of hundreds of jobs by area businesses, and similar job creation is expected to extend well into 2024.

A major catalyst for job growth has historically been the auto industry and there are no signs of that changing anytime soon. Tire manufacturer powerhouse Nokian Tyres announced an expansion to its Dayton plant in early 2023. The facility, which opened in 2019, is expected to add 350,000 square feet and 125 jobs in its aim to produce 4 million tires a year at the Dayton plant. Also, working as a supplier within the tire industry, Kordsa Inc. plans to undertake a $50 million expansion that would supply an additional 200 jobs, and battery material maker Novonix received a $100 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2023 that would allow for the creation of a graphite plant and with it another 1,000 jobs. Rounding out some of the biggest headlines from area manufacturers is Roper Corp. which is hard at work on a $118 million investment to the community that will add 600 jobs.

Yet another major investment comes from grocer Kroger which plans to invest $40 million and hire 140 people for a pharmacy fulfillment center in nearby Cleveland, and Five Star Food Service continues its expansion throughout Chattanooga by relocating its headquarters to a larger downtown location with plans to ramp up its workforce as well.

Chattanooga companies aren’t just expanding, however. Countless businesses throughout the Scenic City are trying to do their part to not only grow but also make sure they are a desirable place to work, and there are a few major players coming to the forefront. In the fall of 2023, four Chattanooga organizations – The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Erlanger, Hamilton County Schools, and BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee – were all named to Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Employers.” Meanwhile, the Inc. 5000 list of “Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America” included 20 Chattanooga businesses, up five from the previous year. Leading the pack were Steam Logistics, MOCA Logistics, and KCH Transportation which were all within the top 1,000.

Deloitte tapped both Text Request and FreightWaves for its list of “Technology Fast 500,” and local utility company EPB made headlines as it continues to ramp up work on what is America’s first commercially available quantum network. The quantum network in conjunction with the organization’s 25-gig internet service is a key component in attracting tech and data companies to Chattanooga, and it also plays a role in enticing the remote workforce to relocate to the Scenic City.

Startups are yet another business sector that prospers within the city. With the third largest business incubator in the United States and largest in Tennessee, getting support has never been easier. In addition, organizations such as LAUNCH and CO.LAB offer small business development programs to help budding entrepreneurs.

Also doing big business is the local tourism and hospitality industry. An estimated 16 million people visit Chattanooga each year and spend an average of $4.3 million every day. And with Chattanooga earning a spot on lists such as “The South’s Best Cities” and “Best Places to Visit in Tennessee,” it’s easy to see why.

Regardless of size or industry type, Chattanooga is the place to be when it comes to business.