Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp’s office recently released a series of updates highlighting progress on education, infrastructure, government efficiency and veteran services. Here’s a quick look at what’s happening around the county:
• Wamp has launched a new Council on Career & Technical Education to help shape the future of workforce training in Hamilton County. The council is advising the development of the Franklin-Roberts Future Ready Center, a new downtown facility named after longtime local leaders John Roberts and Dalton Roberts. The center aims to better connect students with real-world job opportunities and emerging career paths.
• Hamilton County’s new certified property tax rate is set at $1.51 per $100 of assessed value – the lowest rate since 1941. The reduction from the previous $2.23 rate comes as part of the state-required property reappraisal process and reflects strong growth across the county.
• The County Efficiency Task Force, formed under Wamp’s administration, has identified $3.7 million in annual savings through improved operations and cost-cutting measures. The task force also outlined a path to potentially save up to $50.5 million over time.
• Wamp’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget includes no property tax increase and introduces new operational efficiencies. The budget prioritizes core government services, including public safety and infrastructure, while holding the line on spending.
• With $19.4 million in new road projects proposed and 188 lane miles paved in the last three years, the county continues its largest-ever infrastructure investment. The goal is better roads and improved connectivity.
• In partnership with Hamilton County Schools, the mayor’s office is backing an $8.55 million proposal to improve more than 20 school campuses. Planned upgrades include HVAC improvements, security enhancements and accessibility updates.
• For the first time, Hamilton County’s Veterans Service Office will be staffed by three full-time officers. The expansion is aimed at reducing wait times and helping more local veterans access the benefits they’ve earned.
Ooltewah Veterans post renamed for Haslip
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 held a renaming and dedication ceremony on the evening of June 12 to honor a local fallen hero, U.S. Army Private First Class Travis F. Haslip, who was killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The post, originally chartered Oct. 13, 1994, is now officially known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars PFC Travis F. Haslip Memorial Post 1697. Nearly 150 family members, friends, elected officials, veterans and community members gathered to pay tribute during the historic event.
The process to rename the Ooltewah post began Feb. 20. The national VFW commander in chief granted official approval to dedicate the post in Haslip’s name April 29.
PFC Haslip, 20, died May 19, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, when a roadside improvised explosive device detonated near his unit. He served with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), Texas.
Originally from Pontiac, Michigan, Haslip had lived in Ooltewah since 1990. He attended Ooltewah High School, Collegedale Academy and Chattanooga State Community College. He was a member of the Ooltewah Seventh-day Adventist Church and is buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Haslip received multiple military honors, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.
Major upgrades planned for Finley Stadium
Leaders of the Stadium Corporation announced this week that they will soon begin work on a comprehensive master plan for “Finley Stadium 2.0,” a major renovation and reimagining of the nearly three-decade-old venue.
The plan will focus on a west stadium renovation that includes upgraded locker rooms, expanded premium seating, improved access to First Horizon Pavilion, and infrastructure improvements to support large-scale concerts. The project also aims to create a “stadium within a park” atmosphere that better connects the Finley campus to the surrounding neighborhood.
Design work is set to begin in July and will be led by HKS, a nationally known urban design and sports architecture firm, in partnership with local firm Tinker Ma. The planning phase is expected to conclude by the end of the year.
Support for the master plan is being provided by several local philanthropic organizations, including the Lyndhurst Foundation, Benwood Foundation and the Bobby Stone Foundation.
Stadium leaders said the plan will take a holistic look at the entire campus. Goals include encouraging future development, improving walkability and ensuring the stadium and pavilion remain accommodating venues for current and future events.
The stadium currently serves as a multi-use facility and hosts events ranging from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football games to professional soccer matches, community festivals and concerts.
EPA officials tour Foundries District
Senior officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency visited the future site of the Foundries District last week to observe Chattanooga’s efforts to transform a former industrial site into a vibrant, mixed-use community hub.
The delegation included Steven Cook and Teresa Booeshaghi, both deputy assistant administrators with the EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management, along with Caroline Freeman, director of EPA Region 4’s Superfund and Emergency Management Division. Their tour included Erlanger Park and the former U.S. Pipe and Wheland Foundry properties, areas central to the city’s revitalization efforts.
The visit highlighted how local and federal partners have collaborated to remediate and reuse land once heavily used for industrial purposes. Foundry sand – the primary environmental byproduct at the site – can be safely treated and built upon. The EPA and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation have worked with developers to ensure the site’s long-term safety and viability.
“We were thrilled to welcome senior EPA officials to the site to see the progress that’s been made,” said Andy Stone, partner at Perimeter Properties. “It’s a privilege to honor our city’s industrial history by building a mixed-use stadium into the legacy buildings through the Brownfield Program while making the land more environmentally conducive for future use.”
The centerpiece of the redevelopment is a new stadium that will be jointly owned by the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County. According to an independent analysis by Younger, the project is expected to generate $1 billion in private investment and deliver $2.3 billion in overall economic impact to the region.
The stadium project is expected to pay for itself through tax increment financing, a mechanism that uses increased property tax revenues from surrounding development to fund the project. Over the next 30 years, it’s projected to contribute $186 million to Hamilton County Schools and $102 million in new tax revenue for the city and county – without raising taxes.
Nationally recognized developer Jim Irwin, known for adaptive reuse projects like Ponce City Market in Atlanta and Neuhoff in Nashville, is overseeing construction and development.
Skyuka Hall expanding to new, larger campus
Skyuka Hall, a K–12 independent school serving students with learning differences and ADHD, has acquired a new campus through the generosity of local donors. The $11.75 million transaction includes the former property of Precept Ministries and will allow the school to more than double its enrollment over the next five years.
Founded in 2014, Skyuka Hall serves 120 students. The new facility will enable the school to grow to 250 students by the 2029–2030 school year.
The move follows four months of design work and will require eight months of renovation. Skyuka Hall plans to relocate in time to begin the 2026–2027 academic year at the new site. Roughly $3.5 million is still needed to complete the renovations, which the school will need to finance without additional philanthropic support.
Skyuka Hall is dually accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools and Cognia, offering individualized instruction exclusively for students with learning differences.