Urban League set to renew partnership with Hamilton County Government

3 hours ago

Nick Hill,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga is set to renew their partnership with Hamilton County Government.

County commissioners will consider a resolution that would grant them $250,000.

This money would go towards the following:

$150,000 to Entrepreneurship & Small Business Development

“Funding will support entrepreneurship and small business development services that provide startup training, business planning assistance, mentorship, and technical support designed to help launch or expand more than 30 local businesses and contribute to job creation across Hamilton County.”

$40,000 to Workforce Pipeline Expansion

“Career readiness training, job placement assistance, and employer engagement to connect residents with local employment opportunities.”

$30,000 to Youth Career Readiness & Leadership

“Expansion of youth leadership and career exposure programming to prepare students for college, technical training, or the workforce.”

$20,000 to Shoes for School Initiative

“County sponsorship to expand the back-to-school program supporting student readiness for families across Hamilton County.”

$10,000 to Program Implementation & Accountability

“Data tracking, reporting, and outcome measurement to ensure transparency and measurable results.”

This partnership is the first between the Urban League and the county since a falling out in late 2023 between former president Dr. Candy Johnson and the county after over a million dollars was reallocated from the organization to fund new athletic fields at multiple schools including Howard.

Since then, the Urban League has a new president, Dr. Reginald Smith, whom Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp says has been more open to collaborating with the county.

Mayor Wamp said, “Unfortunately, the previous CEO had no desire to work with us, and candidly, we offered her several different financial opportunities at the time. I don’t think it fit her narrative at the time…Dr. Smith did and the county is going to be able to forge a partnership here working on disadvantaged entrepreneurship and some programs that are going help lift young people up into careers through workforce development.”

The commission will vote on this funding on April 15.