Banner Built Homes has announced the development of Davidson Meadows, its first Chattanooga community. Developed with Legacy South, the East Brainerd neighborhood will include 95 single-family, cottage-style homes across five floor plans, with base prices from $299,900 to $409,900. Standard features include granite countertops, high-end cabinetry and Mohawk flooring.
The project will be built in four phases through 2028 and will feature a manicured entrance and sidewalks. The location is within a 15-minute drive of Target, Whole Foods, Erlanger East Hospital, Hamilton Place and the airport – and about 20 minutes from downtown. The neighborhood is zoned for East Brainerd Elementary, East Hamilton Middle School and East Hamilton High School. More at bannerbuilt.com.
Brainerd Pantry marks five years
The Brainerd Community Food Pantry is celebrating its fifth anniversary after launching in October 2020 to meet soaring need during the pandemic. Operating biweekly from Brainerd United Methodist Church, the volunteer-driven effort has provided more than 1 million meals to nearly 25,000 families in East Tennessee and north Georgia through a partnership with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
Demand remains high as food costs climb; organizers say the cost to feed a family one meal has risen from $2.64 in 2020 to $7.55 today.
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Chattanooga launches pilot recycling programs
Chattanooga has launched two new pilot programs to reduce landfill waste by collecting food scraps and glass for recycling. The initiatives, which run through June 30, 2026, are partnerships with local companies NewTerra Composting and Overlooked Materials and will initially serve residents in the Brainerd area.
NewTerra Composting will lead the city’s first curbside food waste collection program, turning discarded food into nutrient-rich compost instead of sending it to landfills. Residents can sign up for the curbside service or drop off compostable materials at kiosks being installed at each of Chattanooga’s five recycling centers.
Overlooked Materials will oversee the glass recycling pilot, providing curbside collection and processing the material for reuse in local construction and manufacturing. Both programs are voluntary and open only to residents who register online through the partner organizations.
The city’s composting effort is funded through an Organics Management grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Officials say the programs aim to reduce methane emissions from food waste and keep glass – a fully recyclable material that often ends up in landfills – circulating in the local economy.
Southern Adventist to offer new Ed.D.
Southern Adventist University will launch a new Doctor of Education program focused on leadership and learning in Fall 2026. The fully online degree will be suited for professionals in business, education, nonprofit leadership, pastoral ministry and public service. Prospective students can contact Rosa Mayr at 423 236-2585 or rosamayr@southern.edu.
UTC nursing school elevated to college status
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga announced that its School of Nursing will become the UTC College of Nursing, pending final approval from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The change, approved by the UT board of trustees, marks a major milestone for a program that has prepared nurses for the region for more than 50 years.
The new College of Nursing will be UTC’s fifth academic college, joining the Colleges of Health, Education and Professional Studies, Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Computer Science and the Gary W. Rollins College of Business. Officials say the elevation recognizes the program’s size, reputation and workforce impact, with nearly 1,000 students enrolled and a 97% average licensure exam pass rate.
UTC is also constructing the 90,000-square-foot Dorothy and Jim Kennedy Health Sciences Building, set to open in 2027, which will allow the college to more than double its enrollment capacity.