Great Things Happening in Chattanooga: House of Representatives
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. FLEISCHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to take this moment to bring your attention to some exciting developments from my hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. For those of you who haven't heard, Chattanooga has undergone incredible transformation over the past several years; and, now, the story of our progress is making news across the globe.
A few decades ago, Chattanooga's economy was dwindling. Legacy companies were closing. Local manufacturers were folding in the face of global competition. We were even said to have the dirtiest air in America.
Today, Chattanooga is a place that has attracted more than $4 billion in new investment during the recent recession. It is a place that has the fastest residential Internet service in the United States, and Chattanooga is a place that one national publication called the region with ``the greatest economic growth potential'' in America.
In August, the buzz about Chattanooga brought an economic and social development think tank to our city for a firsthand look. The group--called the Intelligent Community Forum--studies 21st-century growth within the global community. It looks at cities that are leveraging 21st-century infrastructure to create jobs and foster innovation. After spending a few days in Chattanooga, the Intelligent Community Forum confirmed something we have known for a long while: big things are happening in our community.
What the Intelligent Community Forum saw during its trip to Chattanooga, and has learned about us since, recently led them to name our community as one of the seven smartest cities in the world. We are now running for the number one spot.
The awards for top designation go to cities that are using information and communications technology to move every sector of their community ahead. These cities are leaders, and to be counted among them means you are growing in ways the rest of the world is not.
The Intelligent Community Forum is saying Chattanooga is a place to watch. What they see in our community is what I want to talk to you about today.
The same Chattanooga that once lagged behind the rest of the Nation is moving ahead. We're receiving praise from all sides for generating growth in an adverse economy and for maintaining an outstanding quality of life in the process. Chattanooga now offers the fastest residential Internet service in the United States and is one of only a handful of cities in the world that runs at 1,000 megabits per second. And the Electric Power Board, our city's local electric utility, has installed a fiber-optic network that uses smart meters to process real-time information and adjust transmissions according to the needs of individual homes. All 170,000 homes in EPB's service area benefit from this technology.
But Chattanooga's strides in broadband and digital inclusion are just part of the picture. Chattanooga was one of the first cities to come out of the recession, thanks in part to a strong business community. Coordinated efforts between nonprofit organizations are driving small-company formation. The Chattanooga-area chamber of commerce runs one of America's largest business incubators, with 60 companies employing more than 500 people under one roof.
These are just a few examples of the way Chattanooga is setting itself apart from the rest of the world. Every leap we make ahead underscores the forces that are fueling our progress: vision and collaboration. These are exactly the qualities the Intelligent Community Forum looks at in a number one city.
I would like to congratulate Chattanooga for the recognition it is earning, and I hope you will join me in supporting our quest to become the Most Intelligent Community for 2011. Great things are happening in Chattanooga right now; and, Mr. Speaker, a lot more are expected to come.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source