Strong City/Chamber Partnership Lands Chattanooga on World Economic Forum Working Group

The World Economic Forum announced that 36 global cities will pioneer a smart technology policy roadmap as part of the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance. Only two U.S. cities — San Jose, CA and Chattanooga, TN — were selected to pilot adoption of the roadmap.

“We are honored to be among the 36 global cities, and one of only two U.S. cities, selected to pioneer the G20 Smart Cities Global Alliance’s policy roadmap. We began our smart city work a decade ago when EPB launched its community-wide fiber network and have been working to become a leader in this space ever since. This project is an important next step in our smart city journey as we build upon the groundwork we’ve laid and prepare Chattanooga for a smarter, stronger future,” said Christy Gillenwater, President and CEO, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.

A recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan found global smart cities can spur $2.46 trillion in business opportunities by 2025 — that is, if such cities have policies in place to support those opportunities. As global economies buckle under the weight of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this new policy effort serves as a blueprint for unlocking that potential of smart cities to aid recovery efforts.    Chattanooga's "entrepreneurial mindset" has been credited to much of its success in smart city-related efforts partnering with the chamber to accomplish the following: The first U.S. city to offer fiber optic internet to every citizen Deployment of an advanced traffic signal system  Smart-tech programs initiated in collaboration with the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA,) U.S. Department of Energy and Vanderbilt University.  Tech-driven development featuring micro-grid programs, smart building energy mandates and solar field projects To learn more about the smart city initiative check out https://globalsmartcitiesalliance.org

‌

Local Chambers From Red, BLue & Purple States Speak at Global Climate Summit

The day before Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina, local chamber CEOs from red and purple states gathered at the Global Climate Summit in San Francisco to talk about their work to create resilient communities.

According to Doug Luciani, President and CEO of Traverse CONNECT/Traverse City Chamber of Commerce in Michigan, "Local chambers and the private sector have an important role to play in creating resilient communities. Local chambers are ideally suited to be the leading conveners of stakeholders on this important economic development issue."

One local chamber CEO, Aaron Nelson, President and CEO of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, appeared by video since he was forced to cancel his attendance due to Hurricane Florence and the need to help prepare his community for the disaster.

Aaron Nelson, President & CEO, Chapel-Hill Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, NC and Christy Gillenwater, President & CEO, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, TN

"Climate change is creating challenges and opportunities for us: the challenge of resilience: how our economy is going survive, how our community will survive, how we will respond to changes now and changes on the way." Nelson said. "And then the opportunities: opportunities for economic development and innovation and job growth and working together to find solutions." He encouraged those working on resilience to reach out to local chambers. (Watch video here.)

Christy Gillenwater, President and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber in Tennessee spoke about her community's leadership on clean energy, the development of Chattanooga's Advanced Smart Grid, and a community plan for growth and resilience. Chattanooga's leadership and investments in innovation and clean energy support community resilience, economic development and the ability to attract the best young talent to her community.

The event also featured Brian Strong, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of San Francisco, who spoke about the value local chambers bring to resiliency conversations and planning, and was moderated by Diane Doucette, Executive Director of Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy.

The event attracted many local chamber leaders and businesses interested in resilience and clean energy. The event was organized by Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.