Agenda Items & Discussion

• Thrive Regional Partnership Strategic Update (Bridget Massingale): Bridget Massingale, Executive Director of Thrive Regional Partnership, presented a strategic overview of the 13-year-old regional organization. She highlighted the importance of aligning the region around quantum computing as a top economic priority, noting the Chattanooga area's potential to become a national leader in the field.
• Regional Economic Strategy — Quantum Computing Focus: Council members engaged in extended discussion about positioning Chattanooga's economy around quantum computing and technology sectors. Members emphasized the challenge of transitioning a historically blue-collar, manufacturing-based community toward higher-tech industries, while acknowledging that large manufacturing wins like Volkswagen are unlikely to recur. A competitive study being conducted by the local chamber of commerce was referenced, with colleagues expected to share findings soon.
• WTCI Public Television Funding Crisis: Alison Lebovitz of WTCI presented to the council about the station's response to a $97,000 federal budget rescission in FY26. Since the funding cut, 5,830 donors stepped up — approximately 1,700 of them new donors — demonstrating significant community support. The council discussed a potential one-time city commitment of $250,000 to support WTCI in the FY27 budget. Mayor Kelly was noted to have expressed enthusiasm for the idea and suggested creative budgeting solutions may exist.

Key Decisions & Votes

• No formal votes taken: This was a strategic planning/work session. Discussions were deliberative, with no binding votes recorded.
• WTCI funding commitment under consideration: The council discussed but did not vote on a $250,000 one-time city contribution to WTCI for FY27, with next steps dependent on coordination with the mayor's office and the ongoing budget process.