EPB of Chattanooga and Vanderbilt University are establishing the Institute for Quantum Innovation, a research, innovation and graduate education center aimed at advancing quantum science and technology while strengthening Chattanooga’s role as a national hub for the emerging field.
Pending accrediting approval, Vanderbilt will create an academic research and innovation campus in Chattanooga, placing faculty, staff and graduate students on-site to collaborate with EPB. The institute will support research, workforce development, startup formation and broader economic growth across Chattanooga and Tennessee, with graduate-level academic offerings and industry-integrated training programs planned in quantum, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
The collaboration will unite Vanderbilt’s quantum nanophotonics and research programs with access to the EPB Quantum Center, the nation’s first commercial facility offering both a trapped-ion quantum computer and a photonics-based local quantum network.
StoryPoint senior living expands in Hixson
Everlan of Hixson and Dominion Senior Living of Hixson have officially joined StoryPoint Group’s portfolio of senior living communities under new names: StoryPoint Hixson South and StoryPoint Hixson North.
The transition to the StoryPoint Group family took place Dec. 15.
Company officials said that while the community names have changed, residents and families will continue to receive the same services. StoryPoint Group, which has operated senior living communities for more than 40 years, said the Hixson locations will offer personalized support, memory care, amenities, life enrichment activities and culinary programs consistent with its nationwide standards.
Closed Standifer Gap bridge to be replaced
The city of Chattanooga is moving forward with replacing the closed bridge on Standifer Gap Road, a long-awaited project expected to enhance safety and improve connectivity for residents in the Tyner area near Shallowford and Hickory Valley roads.
The existing bridge, between Glencrofte Lane and Hamby Circle, has been closed since 2016 after being deemed structurally deficient. City officials said federal approvals have now been secured, allowing the project to advance.
Councilmember Jenni Berz said the city will work with the Tennessee Department of Transportation on final preparations, with the bid process expected to open this spring. Public Works Administrator Jerramy Wood said the new bridge will restore an important travel route and that residents will receive regular updates as the project moves forward.
Chattanooga updates open data portal
The city of Chattanooga has launched an updated Chattanooga Open Data Portal to streamline how residents access public data, including maps, dashboards and datasets across topics such as housing, public safety, roads and infrastructure, economic development and more.
Jonathan Taylor, the city’s director of artificial intelligence and data, said the portal is designed as a resource for residents to learn more about city work and services. The previous web address, chattadata.org, will now redirect users to the updated portal at data.chattanooga.gov, with a splash page briefly appearing before automatic routing.
Questions can be directed to opendata@chattanooga.gov.
Hamilton Jail launches substance abuse program
Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett announced the launch of a new medication-assisted treatment program at the Hamilton County Jail & Detention Center aimed at addressing substance use disorders among inmates through a combination of FDA-approved medications, counseling and behavioral therapies.
The program is funded by a $1.2 million Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Use Program grant from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance and is the result of more than two years of planning with partners including Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, Quality Correctional Health Care, the District Attorney’s Office, the county’s Economic & Community Development Office and the McNabb Center. The initiative will be administered in coordination with QCHC and the McNabb Center.
County and criminal justice leaders said the program is designed to reduce overdose risk, lower recidivism and support long-term recovery, while helping participants reintegrate into the community.
Valerie Health expands into Chattanooga area
Valerie Health, a San Francisco-based health care technology company, announced its expansion to Chattanooga with the establishment of a new regional operations hub in downtown and the completion of a $30 million Series A fundraising round.
The company, which provides AI-powered front office automation for independent health care providers, said the Chattanooga office will support the scaling of its operations team and plans to create 100 new jobs by the end of 2026, with more than 200 jobs projected within three years. Roles will span operations, engineering and sales. Lauren Mullins Coile has been named director of operations for the Chattanooga hub.
Room in the Inn receives Publix grant
Chattanooga Room in the Inn (CRITI) has received a grant from Publix Super Markets Charities to support services for women and children experiencing homelessness in the Chattanooga area.
The funding will help the nonprofit continue providing safe shelter, basic needs and supportive services, while strengthening programs focused on education, life skills and long-term family stability. CRITI leaders said the grant will support both immediate assistance and pathways toward self-sufficiency.
Publix Super Markets Charities supports nonprofit organizations addressing hunger, homelessness and other critical community needs.
UTC names sales institute for Phillips
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga announced that its sales institute in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business has been named the John “Art” Phillips Sales Institute, honoring the late entrepreneur and business leader whose sales vision helped grow McKee Foods into a national company and home of the Little Debbie brand.
The naming was made possible through a gift from the Phillips family and will support scholarships, national competitions, faculty development and expanded sales education offerings, including a dedicated Bachelor of Science in business administration in professional sales. University leaders said the gift will also fund enhanced simulation labs and advanced learning technology as the institute more than doubles its space as part of the Rollins College of Business expansion.