Mayor Wamp discusses entrepreneurship, education at Rotary Club

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp addressed the Downtown Rotary Club Thursday.
He discussed the future of entrepreneurship and education in the county.

The mayor presented data showing a wide range of outcomes in local schools, saying it shows the best and worst of our community.

Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp addressing the Chattanooga Rotary Club.

He also stated that he is concerned about what he perceives as a slippage in home grown entrepreneurship, and potentially over reliance on foreign investment.

He referenced Volkswagen’s recent decision to cut back production amid ongoing negotiations with the UAW as one issue.

“What we’re witnessing even over the last several weeks are things that are out of our control. The third shift diminishing (at Volkswagen). The disruptive nature of the UAW that does not give much confidence to those of us in leadership positions. So I would suggest that we should reengineer we make tax dollars available to companies in a way that benefits local companies than it much more rewards companies who might invest here from the outside,” the mayor said.

He told the club he will be sharing some new initiatives at next month’s State of the County address at Soddy-Daisy Middle School.