Some of the best and brightest minds for regional growth and planning met Thursday at the Rotary Club meeting at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
They discussed the "New Boundaries to Sustainable Growth."
That's a blueprint for states, counties and cities to work together.
Tom Griscom was the day's panel moderator. He said, "One question that came form the Rotarians was you want to be known more by companies that you have come in and settled in your area."
Some of the best planning minds got together Thursday to talk about the future of our region.
State Senator Gerald McCormick (R-TN 26th District) said, "We're all in the same market, basically. And we need to work together to bring jobs to the communities that we all share and I think that's what it was about today."
State Senator Jeff Mullis (R-GA 3rd District) added, "They're right. This is a global commerce and you've got to be prepared in order to be seen."
So that means Georgia and Tennessee need to work together if our region is to succeed.
Senator Mullis said, "We have a lot of opportunity. A lot of attention currently. I believe a lot of our attention comes from Volkswagen being here. The world now is looking at Chattanooga and we're seen as part of Chattanooga."
Senator McCormick added, "See if there are ways we can be helpful to companies that might want to have operations in Tennessee and Georgia. We've actually got Chattem has a facility right now that's building is partly in Georgia and partly in Tennessee. And we may have some more of those out there that we don't even know about."
One option on the horizon is the planned high-speed rail. Senator Mullis said, "I'm still a believer in high-speed rail. I think in the future as the price of gas continues to rise and it will, the residents or the citizens are going to say, "Well what are you going to do?" We need alternative modes of transportation well high-speed rail is what I believe should connect our major cities to each other."
All parties agree some economic opportunities shouldn't be limited to state, county, or city lines. Senator McCormick agreed, "If we have a vibrant North Georgia that helps Chattanooga. And if we have a vibrant Northeast Alabama that helps Chattanooga and Hamilton County and the surrounding counties."
