| Name | Charles |
|---|---|
| Last Name | Wood |
| Home Address | 200 Manufacturers Road Unit 231 Chattanooga, TN 37405 United States |
| Organization Name | Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Foundation |
| Describe Your Role In The Organization | The Chattanooga Area Chamber Foundation is focused on economic development and is actively engaged in executing the Chattanooga Climbs strategic plan. Key strategies in the plan in focuses on economic mobility, talent development, entrepreneurship and inclusive growth and leadership. A key tactic in the Chattanooga Climbs plan is to locate employers and workforce training centers in low income areas of Hamilton County and the City of Chattanooga. The creation of the Construction Career Center in East Chattanooga is an example of this strategy coming to life in the community. |
| Organization Address | 811 Broad Street Chattanooga, TN 37402 United States |
| Website | https://www.chattanoogachamber.com |
| Best Phone Number To Reach You | 4233133583 |
| Alternate Phone Number | |
| Email Address | cwood@chattanoogachamber.com |
| Alternate Email Address | chachamber.cwood@gmail.com |
| Please Describe Your Project In Detail | The Brainerd Technology Career Center would be a software and IT training center for high school students to prepare them for careers in the technology sector. The program would include an initial curriculum for freshman and sophomore students and transition to a work-based-learning program during students junior and senior years in high school when students would also work part time for a technology-oriented corporate partner. The project would operate in a similar manner to the Construction Career Center in East Chattanooga but with a focus on preparing students for careers in the technology sector. Like the Construction Career Center, the Technology Career Center would operate as follows: - Focus on in-demand skills for tomorrow’s workforce - Collaborate with an industry partner(s) for internships and active employment during student’s junior and senior years in high school - Offer dual enrollment credit in partnership with Chattanooga State - Operate in a low-income area to create opportunities for economic mobility Hamilton County Schools already offers an introductory level technology program at Dalewood Middle School, which is a feeder school for Brainerd High School. Dalewood’s program is part of the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN) which uses Code.org’s free curriculum for students in the 6th, 7th and/or 8th grade. During our teams discussions with Principal Williams, he indicated that students loved the coding classes and he was certain that students would want to continue technology classes in high school. In addition to the technology program, Hamilton County Schools has suggested utilizing the site for an early childhood learning location as well. This would allow the city to continue their efforts to add early learning seats in critical parts of the city and may also benefit high school students and adult learners that attend the Technology Center. |
| Please explain how your project meets the requirements of the American Rescue Plan | The program would address educational disparities exacerbated by COVID-19. The pandemic has had a significant impact on our community’s low income and minority neighborhoods and this project would focus on job training and education for students that were impacted by the pandemic including limited access to education facilities due to school closures and the transition to online learning, lack of broadband access and interruptions in public transportation. Several states including Massachusetts and Wisconsin have focused ARP funding for skills training and Colorado has funded $51 million toward programs that facilitate professional credential attainment. Overall, 46% of communities are utilizing ARP funding for workforce development initiatives according to a recent survey by Mathematica. |
| Where would your project take place? | The initial location would be Brainerd High School during the first one to two years of the program and would then relocate to a stand-alone location in the Brainerd neighborhood. Brainerd High School draws students from Qualified Census Tracts per the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and is a high-poverty school district. Key demographic considerations for Brainerd High School include: - 91.3% Black/African American - 71.1% Economically Disadvantaged - 71.9% Graduation Rate - 33.8% Post-secondary Enrollment - 69.3% Chronic Absenteeism (missed 10 or more days) |
| How much will your project cost in total? | 3800000 |
| Do you have any matching funding sources from other local governments, private entities, non-profits, or philanthropic entities for your project? | Yes |
| Please describe the source and list amounts of any other funding. | We have initial commitment from Hamilton County Schools leadership for support of the program including facilities and personnel support. Additionally, we have initial support from Chattanooga State Community College to offer dual enrollment credit for students enrolled in the program. |
| What portion of the project are you asking the city to fund? | The goal would be to utilize an initial commitment on the part of the City of Chattanooga to seek one-to-one matching funding from Hamilton County and the State of Tennessee. This is a similar strategy utilized to fund the Construction Career Center when Hamilton County took a leadership position and committed to fund the first $2,000,000 which was later matched by the state, the city and the private sector for a total of more than $8,000,000. |
| If funded, when would your project start? | August 1, 2022 |
| How long would your project take to complete? | This would be an ongoing program. Utilizing partners for ongoing funding and operations. |
| What milestones would you use to measure your project’s progress? | - Curriculum implementation in August - Number of students enrolled in the program - Number of credentials awarded to students annually - Number of students employed part-time by industry partner |
| How would you ensure accountability and transparency throughout the project lifecycle? | An advisory board would be created to include public and private officials with regular reporting of above milestones. This is the same structure utilized in the Construction Career Center. |
| If successful, how would your project benefit the community? | - Provide training and career opportunities for students impacted by COVID-19 - Create a talent pipeline for Chattanooga’s growing technology sector - Create opportunities for economic mobility in one of Chattanooga’s lowest income neighborhoods |
| How will you attract community buy-in for your project? | - Initial support has been garnered from Brainerd High School and Hamilton County Schools and administrators - Additional support will be sought from neighborhood associations, foundation partners and the private sector - Identification of a corporate partner(s) for internships, co-ops and curriculum support |
| Name | Charles Wood |
| Contact Information | |
| Name | Dr. Rebecca Ashford |
| Contact Information | |
| Name | Dr. Justin Robertson |
| Contact Information | |
| Name | Jennifer Bronson |
| Contact Information | |
| Name | Crystal Sorrells |
| Contact Information | |
| Is there anything else you would like us to know about your project? | This project is not meant to be a Chamber project. We are not requesting that ARP funding go to the Chamber. It is a community project that ARP funding could initiate for long-term economic and talent development. It is a conceptual project with a proven formula for success (Construction Career Center) that is being executed in East Chattanooga through broad community partnerships and engagement. This conceptual project needs additional discussion and collaboration with a number of entities, neighborhood voices and partners. The city's initial support for the conceptual project would serve as a leadership position for championing another work-based-learning center that would drive economic mobility in collaboration with Hamilton County Schools and various other partners. |