Driving Our Economy Forward: Rosie Mae’s Alpaca Farm
WILDWOOD, Ga. (WDEF) -- Rosie Mae's Alpaca Farm opened in November 2022. The farm is a dream come true for owners Max and Maegan Lewis of Wildwood Georgia. …
Kay Blevins
Articles
Driving Our Economy Forward: White Duck Taco
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- In this week’s Driving Our Economy Forward, we’re checking out a new local business bringing fresh flavor and community energy to Chattanooga. White Duck…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Dynamo Studios
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- It's a media organization built to encourage the next generation of visual and musical artists. They're giving local youth the opportunity to succeed in the music…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Tiny Tigers Learning Center
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) -- It's a preschool that puts the safety of children first. Tiny Tigers makes sure children are prepared academically for kindergarten. Tonight, we are learning how…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Walnut Street Publishing
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- It's a local publishing company focusing on local authors. The want to reimagine what publishing is as a community, as well as tell stories through…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Bea’s Restaurant
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- It's been a Chattanooga staple for 75 years. If you haven't been to Bea's to eat, you're missing out. From the fried chicken to the peach…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Shappi
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- It's a business that provides freight and logistics services to other businesses, ensuring transportation. Taken from the words "shipping" and "happy", Shappi brings American products to Latin…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Southern Champion Tray
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- They bring your brand alive with packaging. We look at how Southern Champion Tray has been Driving Our Economy Forward with printing and production. “Southern…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Clockout
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- It's an earned-wage access model that is growing in our area. Tonight, we are learning how hourly employees can get faster access to their paychecks. Clock-out is this…
Hope for Alexander: A Family’s Mission to Change Childhood Cancer Treatment
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) - Imagine explaining to your child that he or she has cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), more than 15,000 children and teenagers are…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Basecamp
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — It's an event to connect local resources and organizations. Basecamp is a day for professionals to speak with Chattanooga industries. Tonight, we are getting a first-hand…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Flappy Nappies
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) --Potty -training, it's a task given to all parents. Tonight, we are learning about a product to help young children transition to the bathroom during training. The…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Goliath
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) --Have you ever had a life changing event and needed to sell your home? That's where Goliath can help. The business located in Chattanooga has been…
Driving Our Economy Forward: STRACT
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)-It's a company that has been in Chattanooga since 2019. Starting out as a philanthropic organization and has developed into a cost-effective option for materializing ideas. We're learning how…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Brickyard
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- They call it an odd bird in venture capital. Investing in tech companies moving to Chattanooga from all over the world. Tonight, we show you how the…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Rock City
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Each year more than 500 thousand people visit Rock City from around the world. They come to see the gardens and enjoy the attraction. Tonight, we…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Insane Paintball/Airsoft
ROSSVILLE, GA. (WDEF) -- It's a premier paintball, airsoft, and nerf facility in Rossville Georgia. Insane Paintball started serving customers in 2000. If you are looking for a location to…
Driving Our Economy Forward: The Hummus Bowl
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- Traditional hummus is made from ground chickpeas and sesame seeds. Add a little olive oil, lemon, and garlic, and you the recipe for a delicious source of…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Elders Ace
Elder's Ace Hardware is a local family-owned business. The company operates 37 neighborhood hardware stores that serve East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and North Georgia. From lawn care…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Yellow Racket Records
At Yellow Racket Records, they say music is more than just a background noise...it's an experience. You will find new records, and some old classics. We're learning what makes…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Catoosa 911 Center
CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) --Dispatchers at the Catoosa County 911 center work tirelessly to help those in need. Employees at the center strive to have a standard of excellence…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Chase Bank
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -Recently, CHASE Bank held a grand opening for the bank's first retail branches in Chattanooga. Now the company has statewide retail presence across the state of Tennessee.…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Cleveland High School Welding
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF)- It's a unique event highlighting high school student's skills in welding. We are learning more about this hands-on competition, featuring partnerships with local businesses at…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Primary Healthcare at CCA
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) -- A walk-in clinic is now open at The College and Career Center in Catoosa County. This week we take a look at how the…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Brothers Bagel
Brothers Bagel started serving up freshly baked New York style bagels back in October. Since then, crowds of customers have been lining up to get a meal. Tonight, we take…
Driving Our Economy Forward: TVFCU Idea Leap Grant
Startup capital is essential for any new business. For 9 years, TVFCU has provided that funding through its Idea Leap Program. Marcus Cade-Johnson, the Director of Corporate Engagement…
Driving Our Economy Forward: University Surgical Associates
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- It's a business that started with two surgeons but is now one of the largest multi-specialty surgical groups in the southeast. Tonight, we take a look…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Lawson Electric Co.
Lawson Electric is celebrating 100 years in business. From a major solar generator to electrical work at your home this company continues to produce success. We learn why students…
Driving Our Economy Forward: K Tenn Cans
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Dr. Curt Koontz, Owner and CEO, Dr. K's Tenn Cans, says "I'm Dr. Kurt Koontz and would like to welcome you to Dr. K's Tenn Cans.…
Driving our Economy Forward: Aerotek
CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF)-Finding the right job can be difficult. For more than 35 years Aerotek has connected organizations with manufacturing and production professionals. Tonight, we are learning how the business is…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Baroness Erlanger
It's a hospital that's been in the Chattanooga area for more than 120 years. Tonight, we look at the history and how Erlanger Medical Center has continued to Drive Our…
Driving Our Economy Forward: CHI Memorial Hospital
Memorial Hospital opened in Chattanooga in 1952. Since then, the health organization has been striving to provide compassionate health care and has even received national recognition. Tonight, we are…
Driving our Economy Forward: Covenant Logistics
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) --It's a trucking company that started in Chattanooga back in 1985. Now, Covenant Logistics has grown its company to help customers develop supply chains across the…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Peak Symposium
The 10th annual Peak Performance Symposium took place recently at the Pie Innovation Center in Cleveland, Tennessee. The symposium gives manufacturing professionals a chance to share ideas through technology and…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Amani Ya Juu
It's called Amani Ya Juu or "Peace from Above." It's a fair trade non-profit gift shop selling homegoods, toys, jewelry, women's clothing, and many more items from Kenya and…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Seahorse Snacks
Her story is inspiring! Stacey Martin calls herself a seahorse. And like a seahorse, she does not have a stomach. Stacey had her stomach removed to lower her very high…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Mountain View Ford
A dependable mechanic is important when you own a vehicle. Tonight, we look at how Chattanooga State and Mountain View Ford continue to drive our economy forward with the…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Bluecross Blueshield Switch Academy
The Switch Academy helps Hamilton County students with learning challenges get the tools they need for success outside the classroom. Recently, Hamilton County Schools Superintendent, Justin Robertson, joined several…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Angels Program
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is hosting a series of meetings concerning the Tri-Star Angels Program. Tonight we are learning more about what that program means for…
Driving Our Economy Forward: Cocoa Asanta Award
A local chocolate artist and business owner is being honored by the state of Tennessee. Cocoa Asante is a black and women-owned company that produces chocolates that are almost…