INTRODUCTION
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Education Initiative grew out of a need perceived by the business community for a highly skilled labor force in the Chattanooga area. The Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to adopt the Education Initiative in the fall of 2005, and a director began to establish the Initiative in January 2006.

EDUCATION INITIATIVE VISION
Through the Education Initiative, the Chamber will work collaboratively with public and private school systems, higher education organizations, business and industry, private foundations and community agencies in an effort to represent the issues, interests and concerns of the business community in helping to develop a highly skilled labor force and educated citizenry within its metropolitan area.

EDUCATION INITIATIVE MISSION
The Chamber’s Education Initiative will represent the interests of business and industry in the development of a community-based approach to improving public school education within its metropolitan area. The overarching strategies for the initiative include:

• Initiating an ongoing dialogue between business people and educators about workforce needs and the resources required to meet them.

• Establishing benchmarks for educational excellence in order to monitor and communicate educational achievement and accountability.

• Working to achieve broad-based community support for and investment in education at all levels.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Kay Andrews, Ph.D.
Vice President of the Education Initiative
Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
811 Broad Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
423-763-4350
kandrews@chattanoogachamber.com