The city of Chattanooga has begun construction on a new business resource center, an initiative funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. With a budget of $1.8 million, the center will serve as a resource for local entrepreneurs.
The Business Resource Center will be located in the old Kelley Building at 332 East Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Designed to be a hub for business development, the center will provide technical assistance, funding opportunities and access to legal and accounting services.
The facility is slated to open in October and will also feature ADA-accessible training rooms and on-site support from lenders such as Community Development Financial Institutions, the Small Business Administration and local credit unions.
Community Foundation receives accreditation
Community Foundations National Standards has granted accreditation to the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. CFNS establishes legal, ethical and effective practices for community foundations in the U.S.
“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous and comprehensive process,” says Susie Nelson, board chair of National Standards. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates CFGC demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.”
The CFS program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration.
With over 900 community foundations accredited nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisers.
“This is important to our donors,” says Maeghan Jones, CFGC president and CEO. “When people make a charitable bequest or establish a fund, they’re putting their trust in us. They’re counting on us to manage the investment wisely, honor their charitable wishes and – in some cases – support the giving of multiple generations. The National Standards accreditation says our house is in order.”
UTC enhances ARC accessibility
The American Water Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Tennessee American Water, has awarded the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Aquatic and Recreation Center a $10,000 grant to install a new ADA-compliant chair lift.
The donation was awarded through the American Water Charitable Foundation’s State Strategic Impact grant program, which is part of the 2024 Keep Communities Flowing grant program.
“We’re proud to provide more accessibility to the swimming pool at UTC’s aquatic center for people with mobility issues,” says Grant Evitts, president of Tennessee American Water. “Through the American Water Charitable Foundation, we’re able to enhance our partnership with UTC, which also includes improvements in the water infrastructure that services the campus.”
“We’re grateful to Tennessee American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation for helping us to improve accessibility at the Aquatic and Recreation Center,” UTC Interim Chancellor Robert Dooley says.
“The new ADA-compliant chair lift will make it easier for individuals with mobility challenges to access the pool.
Erlanger introduces new eye cancer treatment
This past December, Erlanger Radiation Oncology was the first in Tennessee to treat choroidal metastasis, a type of eye cancer, with a new Y-90 radiation therapy.
Before this new treatment option, ocular tumors have been treated using low-dose radiation to the eye over the course of a week. This Y-90 treatment uses a high-dose beta radiation disc guided by a handheld wand to target and treat the area within a few minutes.
Dr. Asghar Haider, vitreoretinal surgeon and ocular oncologist at Southeastern Retina Associates, says the Y-90 treatment offers eye specialists a new tool for treating eye cancers.
“This treatment allows for the tumor and the retinal detachment to shrink away and the patient’s vision to be saved.”