The state of Tennessee’s annual sales tax holiday weekend will take place Friday, July 26 through Sunday, July 28.
During this holiday, Tennesseans can save nearly 10% on qualifying clothing, school supplies and computers. Tennesseans can purchase clothing and school supplies tax-free if they are priced at $100 or less and buy computers tax-free if they are priced at $1500 or less. Qualifying items may be purchased online and in stores.
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New timeline set for Moore, McBrien bridges
Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews have revised their construction schedule for the S Moore Road and McBrien Road bridges over I-24.
This work is part of Phase II (the second of two projects) to widen and improve the I-75 at I-24 interchange in Hamilton County.
Both bridges are expected to reopen in January 2025, six months later than expected. The new timeline is a direct result of five new bridge beams being refabricated, at TDOT’s request, to adhere to the standards and specifications defined in the contract. TDOT has a rigorous quality control process for all materials.
The five new beams were delivered and set this week. Phase II of the project is 40% complete and the estimated completion date for the entire project, in late 2025, remains unchanged as does the $161 million cost.
Closing both bridges at one time allows for expedited construction of the bridges. Even with the delay, the traffic impacts are still reduced by six months to a year. Drivers are encouraged to reduce their speed through the work zone, follow posted signage, and remain alert to changing traffic conditions.
City publishes site on pedestrian safety
The city of Chattanooga has published the “City of Chattanooga Safer Streets” website, the goal of which is to allow workers, residents, and visitors to learn more about the city’s pedestrian safety work, and to reduce fatalities while protecting the most vulnerable.
As part of overall efforts to address safety across the city, multiple departments collaborated to create a public resource to address pedestrian safety and the city’s most vulnerable road users when walking, biking, or rolling for work or play. This site includes, but is not limited to, crash statistics, tracking of safety improvement projects, highlighted successes and educational material.
The site also gives individuals an opportunity to share their experiences both through an ongoing public survey as well as a new email address, SaferStreetsCHA@chattanooga.gov, to inquire about a pedestrian-oriented issue or submit a walk/bike audit for evaluation by city staff.
The Safer Streets website does not replace the 311 system. Any need for a physical street repair, sign damage/replacement or other hazard/obstruction on a street or sidewalk should be submitted to 311.
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Firefighting support grants available
To show its continued commitment to community fire departments and local emergency management services, Tennessee American Water announced today it is accepting applications for its 2024 Firefighting Support Grant Program.
The Firefighting Support Grant program provides financial assistance to uniformed, professional and volunteer fire departments in Tennessee American Water’s service territories. Applicants can easily apply directly on the Company’s website, tennesseeamwater.com. Grants of up to $1000 will be awarded to cover costs for equipment or training.
Last year, the company awarded 14 grants to uniformed, professional and volunteer fire departments in Hamilton and Marion counties in Tennessee and parts of northwest Georgia.
Applications must be submitted online by Friday, Aug. 16 and recipients will be notified in September.
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New Lookout stadium construction begins
After years of public input, design work, site studies, and negotiation between private parties and local elected leaders, construction officially began Monday on Chattanooga’s new public multiuse stadium in the South Broad District.
The future home of the Chattanooga Lookouts will redefine the city’s western gateway and spur the redevelopment of 140 acres of blighted structures into new downtown homes, hotels, restaurants and office space – all tied together by the Tennessee Riverwalk.
Not only is the stadium development expected to pay for itself through future tax revenue generated around the stadium through a financial tool known as a TIF, but it will generate $186 million in new education funding for Hamilton County Schools and $102 million in new tax revenue for the City and County over the next 30 years, without raising taxes, according to an independent analysis conducted by Younger.
Jim Irwin, a nationally recognized master developer with award-winning experience restoring legacy structures for modern uses – including Neuhoff in Nashville and Ponce City Market in Atlanta – will oversee the construction of the stadium and the surrounding development.
All relevant partners have agreed to a development agreement to ensure the development meets key investment milestones. A community benefits agreement (the first in Chattanooga’s history) will also be completed to ensure the economic and social benefits of the development benefit all people in the area.
Despite inflation and interest rates, the landowners, the Lookouts, private developers, and local elected officials settled on a fair financing structure to build the $115 million mixed-use stadium. Details of the financing structure are publicly available at www.southbroad.info/economics.
Nominations open for early educator awards
Tennesseans for Quality Early Education has announced the launch of the inaugural Tennessee Early Educator Awards. These awards aim to honor exceptional early childhood educators, elevate the early childhood education profession and highlight the critical role high-quality early education plays for Tennessee’s children, families, and communities.
The awards will recognize 20 outstanding educators across the state, with 10 awards in each of the following categories: Birth through Preschool; and kindergarten through third Grade. Each awardee will receive a $1,000 cash prize, a shopping spree at Lakeshore Learning, an all-expenses-paid trip to Nashville, and a variety of other surprise gifts.
To be eligible for the award, an early educator must:
• Be currently employed full-time in Tennessee, caring for and teaching children:
• Within the birth through preschool age range in a regulated center, family child care home or school-based program OR within grades K-3 at a state-accredited public or charter school
• Have been an early childhood educator for three or more years
The nomination window is open until Friday, Aug. 2, 1 p.m. EDT.
Anyone may submit a nomination, and self-nominations are also welcome. Qualifying nominees will be invited to submit an application.
Awards will be announced in late October.
Information/nominations: www.tqee.org/educators/early-educator-awards/
Library hails return of Maker Day Aug. 3
The Chattanooga Public Library has announced the return of Maker Day, happening Saturday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on the fourth floor at the Downtown Library.
River City Company and emerging producer Cortina Jenelle Caldwell will be hosting a variety of activities during Maker Day, including activity labs for Caldwell’s “2034: Chattanooga in the Making” community art project.
The project aims to forecast what the next 10 years of making in Chattanooga will look like.
Caldwell and River City will also be hosting a storytelling booth for anyone who wants to share their fourth-floor makerspace experience, as well as life-size lawn games and art-making stations along the Broad Street, 10th Street and 11th Street sides of the Downtown Library. Joining them outside of the Library will also be a variety of buskers organized by Soundcorps.
In addition to activities from River City, Maker Day will also feature a wide array of local artists and makers and activity stations featuring cyanotypes, printmaking, zine-making, podcasting, button-making, fiber arts and more. Artists and makers who would like to reserve a table at the event for free can apply now through July 26 on the library’s website.
Maker Day 2024 is free to attend and open to all ages.
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New build apartment permits down 30%: Redfin
Builders obtained permits to construct 13 multifamily housing units for every 10,000 people in the U.S. so far this year, down nearly 30% from an average of 18 during the same periods in 2021-2023, according to a new report from Redfin.
The report is based on an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data covering building permits for multifamily units in buildings with five or more units during the first five months of 2024, and the same periods in 2021-2023. National figures cover the entire U.S., while the metro sections below cover the 79 U.S. metros with populations of at least 750,000.