The City of Chattanooga, along with VaynerMedia and Coyote Logistics officials, last month announced the creation of more than 200 new jobs through a new Innovation District Grant to help businesses hire more employees and grow the local innovation economy.
The announcement was made during a presentation to the Chattanooga City Council’s Economic & Community Development Committee session. Under the new grant, the first recipients, VaynerMedia and Coyote Logistics, will increase their workforce by creating a combined 235 new jobs in Chattanooga.
“Establishing the Innovation District has allowed Chattanooga to continue to recruit and retain top talent in technology,” said Mayor Andy Berke. “This investment not only supports more than 200 new jobs and the local families who will benefit from these positions, but it’s a signal of continued growth as companies seek to expand within the district.”
“We know density is key for Chattanooga’s Innovation District,” said City Council Economic & Community Development Committee Chair Chris Anderson, whose district also houses the Innovation District. “I appreciate the commitment that VaynerMedia and Coyote are making to our city and the creation of new jobs that will grow our innovation sector.”
With the creation of the Innovation District Grant, VaynerMedia plans to grow its Chattanooga team to 75 employees. Advertising and media agency VaynerMedia opened a Chattanooga office in the Innovation District last June.
“We are incredibly excited to expand in Chattanooga and support this city,” said Gary Vaynerchuk, co-founder and CEO of VaynerMedia. “We were sought out by several different cities eager to have VaynerMedia open there, but the tremendous opportunity in Chattanooga with its Innovation District made the choice an obvious one for us.”
Coyote Logistics is adding 160 positions, further enhancing the success of the first midsize city in America to establish an Innovation District.
Established in January 2015, Chattanooga’s Innovation District is a mix of startup businesses, business incubators, and accelerators purposefully located within a walkable, urban core. The district is anchored by The Edney Innovation Center, which houses accelerator CO.LAB, the Enterprise Center, and Society of Work.
For more information on the Innovation District, visit www.chainnovate.com.
Source: The City of Chattanooga