"Read all about it"

Posts Tagged ‘Thrive 2055’

Thrive 2055- 50 dangerous signs that a regional plan has been implemented in your community.

In Uncategorized on March 28, 2013 at 3:48 PM

50 dangerous signs identified within the Thrive 2055 regional growth plan.

Bradley County Tennessee and 15 other counties in 3 states within our mega region are busily preparing for a huge growth plan that will reduce our current system of representative government to a shadow government.

The many dangers signs are clearly visible but involve peeling back many layers to  be seen.

 Replacing our local government with a regional or quasi government run by globalists with a specific agenda to ultimately rob you of your property and personal rights, to me, is the most dangerous element within a regional growth plan.

With the acceptance of and our elected officials turning over their autonomy and ability to make decisions to a regional non representative government we in Bradley County and across the nation have seen our voice of representation at the local level go away and replaced.

Regionalism can be seen as a way to spread the cost of development across the region and cutting costs to some vested stakeholders.

The reality of a regional plan is a much darker picture under the surface.

We will see a transformation that will turn our community into a sea of rules and codes that will drown us in layers of new regulation.

Pay attention to these 50 danger signs and see if this is where you want our community to succumb.

Our community is actively changing and there are many who stand to benefit royally from their willing participation in this dangerous shift to a socialistic nirvana with the successful herding of the masses of population into a confined area with a wave of repression that we have never seen in modern day America.

Simply declaring regionalization as a non negative force, perhaps benign entity is naiveté defined. 

This thought pattern reflects to me that regionalism is not clearly understood and the mere fact that the many sinister components within this plan are being supported leads me to believe that our elected leaders are either compliant or do not fully understand it’s impact.

This undertaking either way will have a lifelong lasting effect on humans within our zone or region.

To see this and still support this is irresponsible and leads us to assume that our priorities are out of place and we have once again let the almighty dollar or federal handout direct our path.

Ponder this path and declare if this is where you want those who are leading us to take you, the taxpayer who will ultimately foot this huge bill.

1) We can assume a tremendous cost burden on ourselves and our children in the billions, perhaps trillions, into future generations. Ask a simple question, “What will it cost?” The answer will not readily be heard.

2) Our property rights will be in jeopardy by imposing stringent rules and code enforcement and many forced to leave by eminent domain or other means.

3) Our personal rights and choices will be restricted. The land of the free will come at a cost. Your choices will be made by the new regulations imposed upon you.

4) Expansive new land use regulations will strangle you with additional cost and headaches. Step outside these boundaries and you will surely feel the wrath. Just ask someone who has recently had it done to them.

5) New codes and regulations will be your reality. Non adherent inhabitants please move into the UGB, immediately.

6) Will be a shift of population to Urban Growth Boundaries into stack and pack housing with the increased crime and dereliction. The plan in some areas calls for 16 family units per acre. Not exactly a quality of life diamond.

7) Rural development will be discouraged with incentives to move toward the city center. If incentives fail, well you know, code enforcement.

8) Refusal or resistance to shift will mean differing codes will be enforced and accumulating fines will ensue forcing cash strapped farmers and rural dwellers to move and lose their properties. Few will be unable to survive the onslaught.

9) EPA, HUD and DOT and their plans for your property will be our new governing body. They come with their own set of rules and the regulations will compound making your survival in a sea of regulation impossible. Remember, no money given to our community comes without strings.

10) Our elected leaders will be reduced to figure heads with subsidies flowing steadily to persuade their vote. The near comatose state and deer in the headlights look would be comical if not so sad.

11) Rural areas will be claimed as wilderness areas under the control of federal government,  death zones established. Once inside this grasp, the fines will be heavy to either conform or move into the city. Also keep in mind, if you plan to move out of the area, you will just move into another region with it’s own unique regulation structure. This issue is not unique to our area, it is happening all over the world. Are you seeing the bigger picture yet?

12) Rural passes and permission slips will be issued to trespass or visit areas that were once yours. Your unique private property already has plans for it’s use. Just check out the Wilderness Projects already mapped out.

13) Roads and sewer systems will be left to crumble and living before displacement will be unbearable. Vacant and less traveled roads will be destined to rubble. Infrastructure dollars will be shifted inward to the UGB and the rural lands transformed to federal parks, activity centers and open space.

14) Your farm or the property will be government controlled or owned and  you, the former owner, will be given the option to either sale or produce what the government commands or take a small chunk of change or move out.  Have you heard of conservation easement? A dangerous tool of the globalist that are taking over our land.

15) Bikes will be your new choice of transportation and greenways and bike paths will replace roads and vehicles. 

16) Electricity will come at a premium and allocated to you from a defined use of pattern established by smart meter allocation with strict guidelines to stay within limitations. Your pattern of use established and a new pattern established to make you greener and more “sustainable!”

17) If fuel is available it will be at a premium and rationed with government vehicles and corporate farmers getting first dibs. Electric car “recharging” areas will pop up at local establishments within the Urban Growth Boundary.

18) Decision making of where your tax dollars will be spent will be in the hands of select NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) or appointed boards.

19) Self indulging, self serving corporatists and stakeholders will direct your tax dollars to their advantage. Many of these same people will be on the many appointed boards and councils set up that create the shadow government. The Chamber of Commerce a close ally and NGO of the United Nations will be directing this onslaught.

20) Stack and pack multi unit housing will pop up on every corner with freedom granted only to roam within your designated color zone or mega region. Have you ever watched the Hunger Games? Pretty close to our future.

21) Fuel restrictions on vehicles, mileage limitations, carbon taxes and fines levied. Tax on miles driven.  Little black boxes within your vehicles that will check your carbon output and upload that data to a central server and a tax or fine applied for that use.

22) Self regulating governess, loss of representation in government. State elected officials bought and paid for to implement changes within your zone. Our elected officials give the green light and leave all the decisions within that plan to bureaucrats. We have seen that locally as our Mayors have shifted that power to a foundation or regional board and our local guys knew nothing of it.

23) Power shift of decision making to NGOs and select bureaucrats and stakeholders with full power to implement. Doesn’t it sound awkward for those representatives of the people to just hand off all the work to a paid consultant group, council or board member? It’s happening now as you speak.

24) Coalition of World Business Council to make corporatism the norm with selective survival while rewarding failure. Big business is already driving the decision making under the direction of entities or NGOs like the Chamber of Commerce.

25) Community Development Block Grants CDBGs. Money with strings attributing to more regulation. This type of structure has brought out many who have plans to pad their own pockets.

26) Monsanto and Cargill controlling seeds and growth. If they control the seeds and ultimately the food, what else do they control, yes, you!

27) Food Councils setup to produce and grow locally with government assistance and direction our  regions food to fuel our food sheds. See the pattern being established here? Self sufficiency within our sector or region, which leads mento believe we are being herded into these mega regions for a bigger objective. Population control? Seperate or individual areas that are easily controlled? An isolation of the states?

28) Face lift grants to “make the community aesthetically pleasing with strict codes for development. Loads of cash and the rules
that go with it, after all, if we are getting billions should it at least look like it?

29) Control and decision making to EPA, HUD and DOT for growth planning. They are already placing their fingerprint, recently filing multi million dollar lawsuits against some of our local mom and pop  businesses, ie, Wright Brothers
Construction.

30) Deeper community debt, higher taxes and personal loss. Work permits to travel outside region boundaries. A few large corporate employers and very few jobs otherwise leaves you as a slave to corporatism.

31) A marriage to ICLEI with their many planning guidelines and connections to the United Nations, our soon to be International governing body with subtle yet solemn surrender of our sovereignty.

32) Strict Climate control penalties and fines. Restriction of heating and air comfort. If you harm the environment in any way, you will pay. Remember the recent lawsuits for cow dung, dust and milk spillage because the milk contain oils that are “not good for the environment?”

33) Oversight of the environment with stringent controls thereof. Mandatory solar or wind adaptation. Stiff fines for non compliance. An expensive alternative that leaves you no choice but to pack up and move to the city or urban area.

34) Transportation guidelines employed to rid our community of gas consuming vehicles. Bicycle rental pods all around and talk of bullet trains through your city.

35) Star Communities vying for approval inside a sustainable community. Again, jumping through hoops for a few dollars.

36) Ambient light and noise discipline in neighborhoods, multiple heavy fines. LEED lighting? Sound familiar? Perhaps we are already doing this!

37) Redevelopment of blighted areas, TIF projects, demolition of homes, initiation of “open spaces”, turning communities “green”, forced recycling.  300 homes in South Cleveland have been targeted and 12 others recently with houses already being taken even as I speak.

38) Churches supporting the UNs MDGs, Millenium Development Goals with paralyzation of our church leaders and a gradual prodding to accept sharia law into your community with the message of love, peace and hope. 

39) Seperate and equal governing councils per region. With full power to make all decisions within the Thrive 2055 plan.

40) Adoption of ICC codes. Yes International enforcement codes, already adopted and waiting in the wings.

41) Local Comprehensive plans drawn up, sent to locally elected officials for approval and authority handed off to bureaucrats like the Chamber of Commerce. Done!

42) Food Policy Centers within each region to define what is socially and environmentally acceptable for consumption.

43) Loathsome land use regulations and restrictions. PUD guidelines, aggressive annexation to engross and grow the Urban Growth Boundary.

44) Establishment of “food miles” to promote utilization of food sheds. Tracking what it means to get food to you within your region.

45) The promotion of community gardening to feed the collective with multi shopping options within your stack and pack dwelling unit. Locovores will be the new buzzword.

46) Small business closures and failures because of trends to protect large business with tax breaks and bailouts. Big corporation have the money and influence this giving you the disadvantage.

47) Shared project costs from city to city within the region. Increased burden on local budgets. Need a school in Georgia or Alabama?  Well, we have a big ole regional budget let’s pool together our tax dollars and send it to them. 

48) Shared school system and funds within region. Common Core initiation with Socialistic indoctrination overtones.

49) Code enforcement officers patrolling and prosecuting offenders like you and I, forcing us into compliance or lose our property. A societal emergency and policing system with collection of data to outer agencies such as Interpol. Initiation of NDAA, NIXEL to squelch the naysayers. Use of Drones for surveillance of your activity on your property with mega pixle picture uploads to only God knows who.

50) Environmental restraints dictating the length of grass, what you can grow on your property, garbage disposal, family gardens etc

This is not an all inclusive list but encompasses and provides a visual for our future under a regional reign.

You can easily see where our locally elected officials have gone awry. By giving their authority to these awkward sets of bureaucrats you can see our sovereignty float away. 

I have spoken to many locally elected officials and they overwhelmingly do not see that their simple vote of approval has placed us on this path to destruction. They have failed to look beyond the federal gifts of dollars and seen our future and what they have done. This is truly the saddest news.

Regionalism under the Thrive 2055 title will completely change the way we live and the financial future of our children. 

Speak out now against this bureaucratic takeover of our local and state governments.

Call your Mayors and elected representatives and tell them this is not what you want out future to look like.

Your silence on this issue is acceptance of these horrendous policies.

I believe this excerpt from the planners bible titled “Freedom of Choice” is a clear depiction of where we are headed

“People should be able to choose where they live and do business as long as they pay the identifiable costs of those choices and do not impose unaccounted for costs on other people or nature, now, or in the future.”

Please check out this video below by Don Casey, on the “Dangers of Regionalism” at a recent town hall meeting in Chattanooga Tennessee.

Thanks Tin Ship Productions for your video contribution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIRkyopumso&sns=em

Thrive 2055- Dangers of Regionalism town hall meeting with Don Casey

In Uncategorized on March 13, 2013 at 4:18 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:   Citizens for Responsible Growth
Mark West,
423-240-8288
mark-west@comcast.net
Gregg Juster
254-744-9562
gregg@juster.com
 
“THRIVE 2055 – THE DANGERS OF REGIONALISM”
FOCUS OF TOWNHALL ON MARCH 16
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Mar. 12) – With Thrive 2055 beginning to gain momentum in the 16 County Area that includes SE Tennessee, NW Georgia, and NE Alabama, Citizens for Responsible Growth is hosting a Townhall to educate and inform affected citizens and elected officials of the Dangers of Regionalism.
Mr. Don Casey, an expert on the importance of property rights, will speak on how comprehensive plans can affect one’s rights to own and manage their private property.  Mr. Casey is a highly sought after property rights speaker, having recently returned from a presentation to the Australian Parliament.
Thrive 2055, with its stated objective of identifying regional values and goals, has hired consultants from outside the area to create a 40 year growth plan for sixteen counties in three states, including Hamilton County.  Mr. Casey will reveal just how the Thrive 2055 Plan will affect property rights as well as the future of the region.
There is no charge to attend the meeting and it will take place on Saturday, March 16 from 10am – 12pm at The Church on Main, 1601 Rossville Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37408. http://www.thechurchonmainstreet.com
Media are invited to cover this event.

Bradley County leaders decision to tax and spend, not sitting well with taxpayers

In Uncategorized on February 26, 2013 at 10:52 AM

The Bradley County News room just received an email that I thought would make a very appropriate “Letter to the Editor” type blog to be addressed in this news outlet and shared with our 50,000 plus readers in 106 countries.

The relevance of the letter comes on the heels of a huge regional tax and spend program startup with meetings to be kicked off in the month of March.

The Local Chamber of Commerce and other NGOs will be gambling billions upon billions of your tax dollars on “economic development” for our 3 state, 16 County megaregional “Thrive 2055” growth program.

The enormity of this project will be horrendously expensive and we the taxpayer will get very little benefit and we will see very little oversight by our elected leaders as non governmental organizations run amuck with your hard earned tax dollars.

The biggest message I received from this email was our locally elected representatives are not concerned with reducing our debt, only receiving more grants to spur new spending sprees. That is a fantastic summation of where our leaders are directing us with this regional growth plan.

They all “say or preach” the right thing when the press is around or hog the print to fuss about DC when they are doing the same thing only at the local level and on a smaller scale.

It’s time the citizens and ultimately taxpayers speak up and say enough is enough. We do not like the direction our County is going and we want to preserve our children’s future not gamble it away for the next federal grant that may come our way.

I think it’s high time we take responsibility for our city and county. Act responsible and live within our means for a change, cut our debt instead of mounding it on our children’s backs, robbing them of their own ability to be prosperous.

Letter to the Editor:

Gentlemen,
Let me please begin by recalling some of your quotes that are the basis of this e-mail to you all.
 
Gary Davis quote from TFP article by Paul Leach on Jan. 11 2013:

“These are all very good signs that we are slowly but surely growing our way out of this recession and, at least in Southeast Tennessee, doing our part to generate the revenue we need without raising taxes”
 
Jeff Morelock quote from TFP article by Paul Leach on Dec. 5, 2012:

“Are we going to invest in future industry here and have growth so we don’t have to increase taxes, or are we going to tell industry we’re not interested in you coming here?”
 
J. Adam Lowe from a CDB article 2/22/2013 by David Davis:

He “absolutely despises the conversation about reducing the deficit. I want to eliminate the deficit. I want to reduce the debt”.
He said his parents would pay more in taxes if they knew it would go toward paying foreign debt.
“There is not trust it will go to that”. “Their concern is that it will continue to fund programs…”
 
Each of these articles were about different issues but I found a common thread running through each of them in your quotes. All of you rail against Washington. All of you talk about how federal debt is an issue and all you ascribe to the same basic political and economic philosophies as the solution.
 
We have our own ever increasing debt problem in Bradley County and none of you talk about it (at least publicly as I can tell). It’s always about how bad things are in Washington. As a proportion we are at least as bad as Washington in this county. Is it not hypocrisy on your part to attack Washington when our situation is approaching a mirror image? And unlike Washington, you can’t just print more money until it is as worthless as the the currency became during the days of  the Wiemar Republic just preceding Hitler.
 
Instead of remaining within the bounds of what is expected of your job you take on the task of “economic development” based on the principles of sustainable development, public/private partnerships and now regional growth. We have been at this kind of activity for over 20 years now? How has it worked for us? Have all these PILOT programs, incentives and business “attraction” produced a ballooning budget surplus yet that you have so hoped for? No it hasn’t and it never will. Do you know what else? I cannot find one study, one piece of documentation anywhere that tells us this unholy alliance between big business and bigger government works. I have multiple studies from the right wing (The John Birch Society) all the way to the left wing (The NEA) as well as many other legal and academic studies that show what you are engaging in always fails. I defy you to find me one study that shows the success of government directed economic development. Understand: I want to believe it works. I want to believe that I can turn all of life’s problems over to my government and they will create a “livable community” for me. The evidence does not bare that out.
 
“Whirlpool is still here.” “Look at Volkswagen and Amazon”: is not a study. Sorry. There are always silver shovel ceremonies and short term bubbles of economic growth (makes for great headlines and photo ops) but that bubble always bursts. Then it leads to more economic development which means more debt! You promote these deals, we provide infrastructure and services at no cost to these corporations. They take federal, state and local monies in these programs. The result: either they are long gone by the time it is time for them to begin paying their full tax burden or if they are still here, we are hit up for another PILOT agreement. You are all aware of cities that have gone bankrupt such as Stockton, Cal. The big lie in the media is that it was all about out of control public employee benefits, retirements and the SEIU. I know there is some truth in part. However the real issue in these California cities is their net bonded debt that they could not pay. This debt was created by redevelopment schemes and business attraction programs just like what is being unleashed in our area now. What makes you think you will do better this time? Regionalism? Thrive 2055 will take care of it?  
 
As stated earlier; none of you suggest addressing the spending side of the equation to solve our deficit issues and spending “needs”. All of you agree that your activity will generate growth, that will generate jobs, that will generate revenue. Once again, we have been doing this for a long time, where is the budget surplus? Where is the debt reduction? Why do you still despair over a lack of revenue?

Your quotes are essentially threats to the people: let us spend this money on economic development or we will raise your taxes. Those are the only options you give. Jeff Morelock, this is especially true of your quote. You clearly give no thought to spending reduction. You want to grow the tax base to match the size of this government that continually increases. How are any of you different than Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama? I can’t tell the difference. These are the ones you probably all criticize and complain about “strings attached” as you continually take money in federal grants and sit back and act appalled at their behavior.
 
Let me make it simple and if you disagree, then at least I said my peace to you.
PILOT programs, TIF and other Tax abatements are wrong for four reasons: 
1. People like free stuff. Whether it is an individual or a corporation. I don’t blame them: they would be stupid for not taking what you are offering because if they don’t, their competition will. Once people or corporations start taking free stuff, they will never stop and demand more free stuff. I asked another county commissioner this  question to his face one time: Where does it end? He shook his head and muttered “I don’t know”. How sad of a response; yet he still votes for all this.

2. Corporations that have tax abatements do not pay for the services they consume. If you want to perform an experiment: let all county residents only pay the school portion of their property taxes for 6 months and see how far you get. And you don’t even have to build us a new fire station or a new road! The NEA study takes my position because they know the safeguards written into the law to protect school taxes does not work.

3. As you start using our tax money as an incentive do you not think other municipalities, regional entities, etc… are doing the same against us? I know in business when someone cuts a price, there is always retaliation against the price cutter. Soon a price war ensues. Gary Davis: I know you understand this: That is why you were caught on a YouTube video at the Walden Club asking our local municipalities to “stop competing with each other, that’s the point”. You said: “We don’t need to compete”. In business, that is a clear violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust act; In government, I guess you can create any sort of Cartel you want. You must be really excited about Thrive 2055. This is a whole new layer of unelected, unaccountable government who make decisions on what businesses will go where and what areas grow. However, this didn’t work in ancient Rome where it was pursued by Emporer Constantine in Constantinople. It did not work in the Soviet Union, and it will not work here. Central planning ALWAYS fails and leaves a trail of debt and poverty. Again, I will share multiple studies if you are interested.

4. NGOs like the Chamber of Commerce and quasi-government organizations like the Industrial Development board shop our tax money to people and corporations. I know these things are not your creation but your quotes and actions show you are more than willing participants. Again, these are unelected organizations and individuals that have no accountability to the people of Bradley County but declare themselves as our “representatives”. There were some very smart people who wrote our various state constitutions who outlawed the very activity the IDB engages in. I know full well these industrial development boards were created to get around state constitutional restraints that forbid municipalites from lending their credit to private comapnies or individuals. Again, many of these things came into being as a result of the New Deal and are not your doing, but they are still wrong. You can choose to not go along with this if you want. 
 
In closing,
We are poor. Let’s start acting like it. Stop complaing about Washington when in truth Washington is your life blood. We rely on federal grant money and you know it as well as I do. Its’ not just funding our local government directly from Washington – you can even look at our local “growth”. For example look at Spring Creek which is being built with HUD 221 backed financing. This is not real, organic economic growth and you know it. These developments are built with non-recourse loans with a lower down payment than any mortgage today. This is a formula for disaster. That’s exactly what caused the housing bubble in the first place! However there is always a recourse – The American taxpayer!!

Show Washington how it’s done. You have your own debt problem to deal with.
J. Adam Lowe: If you are serious about debt, I suggest you offer up a proposal to raise property tax rates in the county with all the proceeds to go to a “lock box” for debt reduction. Think about it – you can be the Ross Perot of Bradley County!! Remember he ran on a platform to tax a gallon of gasoline $.50 that went right to debt reduction? I don’t think you will get that far in your political career by pointing attention to our local debt load but it’s worth a try.

The truth of the matter is that all of you don’t want more revenue for debt reduction: you want more revenue for more spending. My proof is the wheel tax proposal that failed. More money for more borrowing.

Gentlemen, please consider going in a new direction. Consider these words and I am happy to reconsider where I am wrong in my conclusions. Can you say the same about yourselves? I have nothing against any of you personally as I have not met many of you. It’s not any of you as a person that drives me to write this: It is the political and economic philosophies you are following that I find objectionable.
 
P.S.
Let’s start by pulling out of that exit 20 land deal that the city and county paid about $4 millon dollars too much for. I would like a copy of the property assessment for that land by the way. can one of you please scan and send your copy to me?
 
Thank you for your attention,
 
Rob Bower 

“Thrive 2055” gets director for the Chattanooga region

In Uncategorized on September 9, 2012 at 9:49 AM

Thrive 2055 gets director for the Chattanooga region

Ron Harr talks about his vision for job growth in the region. Harr is to be the new CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.

PLANNING PANEL

• Brian Anderson, Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce

• Steve Anglea, Georgia Power

• Becky Barnes, Hamilton County Health Department

• Dan Bowers, Allied Arts

• Diana Bullock, EPB

• Daniel Carter, University of the South

• Bruz Clark, Lyndhurst Foundation

• Eliza DeLaughter, Alliance Physical Therapy

• Steve Dillard, Dillard Construction

• Bob Doak, Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau

• Chuck Dobbins, Shaw Industries

• Gary Farlow, Cleveland Bradley Chamber of Commerce

• Vicky Gregg, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

• Stacy Johnson, La Paz Chattanooga

• Jill Levine, Normal Park Museum Magnet School and Normal Park Museum Magnet Upper School

• Betsy McCright, Chattanooga Housing Authority

• James McKissic, Chattanooga Urban League

• Denny Mobbs, attorney

• Mike Moon, Don Moon Building and Developing

• Jeff Myers, Hamilton Health Care System Inc.

• Jeff Pruitt, Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments

• Honna Rogers, Signal Mountain

• Matt Ryerson, United Way of Bradley County

• Janet Spraker, UTC

• Jack Studer, Lamp Post Group

• Edna Varner, Public Education Foundation

• Connie Vaughan, McKee Foods

• Tom Edd Wilson, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce

Ex-officio staff representatives:

• John Bridger, Regional Planning Agency

• Beth Jones, Southeast Tennessee Development District

Source: Chattanooga Chamber

A first-ever 16-county planning effort for the Chattanooga region, dubbed Thrive 2055, is picking up speed with the hiring of a director and naming of a key oversight panel.

Aimed at creating a 40-year growth plan for the area over the next three years, Thrive 2055 has raised more than $2.5 million of a proposed $3 million budget, officials said.

“We’re definitely moving ahead,” said Ron Harr, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s incoming chief executive.

Newly hired project director Bridgett Massengill said it’s important to engage people in the wide area that includes counties in Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama.

A 28-member coordinating committee will gather regularly, she said. The group’s meetings will be open to the public, Massengill said, and it will aid in communicating with officials in the region.

Possibly starting later this year, working groups of people will convene, she said. They’ll discuss topics the plan is to examine such as transportation, workforce, education, economic development and environmental sustainability.

Massengill, 37, formerly was executive director of the Development Authority in Johnson City, Tenn., and headed her own consulting firm.

To aid Massengill and the new initiative, a Cincinnati-based consultant, McBride Dale Clarion, will help gather regional data and facilitate the working groups.

McBride also will handle social media outreach, which is seen as another way of spurring dialogue.

J.Ed. Marston, the Chamber’s vice president of marketing, said the final product will include an “action plan” for the 16-county area.

“It’s very much like a business plan for the region,” he said.

Chattanooga and Hamilton County each have committed $500,000 to the planning effort while local foundations are investing $1 million, officials said. The Chamber also has raised $540,000 from the private sector. Work continues to reach the initiative’s $3 million budget.

published Saturday, September 8th, 2012
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/sep/08/thrive-2055-gets-director-chattanooga-region/?local

%d bloggers like this: