Here’s information about Chattanooga Venture initiatives and legacy organizations. Bulleted items are related but not directly associated with Venture task forces. We will publish this on the Venturing platform. Please review and let me know what you think! Association of Visual Artists (AVA): The Association for Visual Arts’ mission is to strengthen and promote the artistic ecosystem of Chattanooga’s visual artists, art enthusiasts and arts-based institutions. AVA operates three art galleries (the Main Gallery, the Landis Education Gallery, and the Stage) as well as CHA Art Space and Chalk Alley. It also offers programs such as monthly critique groups, artist talks, member socials, workshops, exhibition receptions, coaching for artists, professional photography, and display screen rental. AVA hosts 4 Bridges Art Festival, the First Horizon Emerging Artists Program, Between the Bridges Festival, and the Propeller Program. A directory of local art galleries, museums, and other arts-based community organizations is located on AVA’s website. The Bessie Smith Cultural Center: The mission of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center is to preserve and celebrate African American History and Culture in Chattanooga through art, education, research and entertainment. The Bessie operates two permanent exhibits — Walk Through Time: The Chattanooga African American Experience and Chattanooga’s Black Soundtrack — as well as a rotating exhibit. The Bessie also hosts the annual Bessie Smith Legacy Gala, where the Bessie Smith Legacy Award is unveiled. The Bessie Smith Performance Hall is available for event rental. The Bessie also offers various educational resources, including tours and programming for schools, lectures and discussions, Bessie’s Front Porch, the Oral History Project, Bessie’s Book Club, and teacher resources. Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE): Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise’s mission is to create economically diverse neighborhoods filled with financially empowered citizens and housing for all. CNE offers lending services, housing counseling, real estate development, lighting walks, and rental properties. Chattanooga News Bureau: none Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences: Deeply rooted in the Paideia Philosophy, the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences provides a Classical, Liberal Arts Education that cultivates lifelong intellectual and civic development through the practice of civil discourse. CSAS operates school age child care, a student shuttle in addition to buses, and various athletics and clubs. Child Care Task Force: none Clean-Up Of Chattanooga Creek: none GreenSteps: GreenSteps’ mission is to eradicate litter and reduce waste with education & community clean-ups. GreenSteps hosts community clean-ups, educational sessions, and tree plantings. Tennessee River Rescue: The Tennessee River Rescue is a community-led initiative that consists of an annual clean-up of the Tennessee River. Community Forums: none Community Gardens and Farmers Markets: none The Chattanooga Market: The Chattanooga Market aims to provide healthy, fresh produce, artisan foods, as well as locally-produced arts and craft wares to Chattanoogans and community visitors. The Chattanooga Market hosts public markets, some of which have hosted charities including but not limited to Erlanger Foundation, Down Syndrome Community of Greater Chattanooga, Stadium Corporation, and Chattanooga Food Bank. Markets include the Chattanooga Market, Erlanger East Market, Erlanger Market, Holiday Market, River Market, and special events. Creative Discovery Museum: Creative Discovery Museum’s mission is to inspire all children to explore, innovate, create, and play. CDM’s exhibits include TreeHouse Adventure, STEM Zone, ArtSpace, Tennessee RiverPlay, Little FarmHouse, UnEarthed, and temporary exhibits. CDM also hosts parties and is available for rental and offers programs such as PlayGym, Little Explorers, Club Discovery, Homeschool, and camps. CDM offers educator resources such as STEM tours, school group tours, classroom lessons, family nights, and educator benefits and hosts the annual AmuseUm event. Design Review Process: none Down-To-Earth Expo: none The Environmental Forums: none green|spaces: green|spaces’ mission is to work toward regional sustainability by progressing the way the community lives, works, and builds in Chattanooga and the surrounding region. green|spaces runs advocacy and incentive campaigns, education and training classes, design competitions, informal lunch and learns, a material and methods library, and other programs. Specific programs include Build It Green, The Green Prix, Understory, Sustainability Professionals of Greater Chattanooga, Empower Chattanooga, Healthy Homes, green|leader, and green|light, as well as partner initiatives Climate Action Plan and Youth Sustainability Board. green|spaces also operates a green business directory. The Facilitators’ Bank: none (operated under the Regional Planning Agency for a time) Gangs Task Force: none Handicap Services: none Human Rights and Human Relations Commission: Created via a city ordinance since rescinded and terminated. Joint City/County Jail and home for male status offenders: none Labor/Management Relations: none Miller Park Entertainment and Night Fall: Nightfall provides a multi-week schedule of diverse, quality musical entertainment in the heart of Chattanooga. Neighborhood Network: Neighborhood associations operate independently with support from City of Chattanooga Neighborhood Services (https://chattanooga.gov/stay-informed/neighborhood-programs/neighborhood-ass...) Non-Profit Incubator: none Partners For Academic Excellence (PACE): none Public Education Foundation (PEF): Public Education Foundation’s mission is to cultivate relationships and create opportunities that empower all educators and students for success in learning and in life. PEF hosts initiatives in student support, such as Camp College, Gateway Scholars, and BlueSky Game Design Challenge; teacher development, such as Project Inspire Teacher Residency, STEM Fellows, Chattanooga Fab Institute, and CS Cohort of Cohorts; and leading leaders, such as Innovative Leadership Series, Volkswagen eLabs, and Fund for Teacher Fellows. Recycling Task Force: none; City of Chattanooga established a recycling program. Reformation of City of Chattanooga government: The City of Chattanooga operates city utilities, such as stormwater and wastewater, waste and recycling, urban forestry, transportation, street maintenance, public wifi, and public authority; community services, such as Head Start, senior programming, community centers, and assistance programs; and safety services, such as police, fire, victim services, the Family Justice Center, legal resources, and code enforcement. The City also operates public parks and recreation. Initiatives include Airport Inn Conversion, HUD Consolidated Plan 2025-2029, Plan Chattanooga, Chattanooga National Park City, One Chattanooga, and efforts to end gun violence and homelessness, as well as various transportation projects. Additionally, the City is engaged in multiple environmental initiatives: Free Tree ReLeaf, RainSmart Water Conservation, and Clear Chattanooga, as well as projects involving stormwater, invasive plants, rain management, water quality monitoring, biosolids management, green infrastructure, water quality buffer, stormwater control measures, and land development water quality. The City’s website also hosts many resources, including payment and application guides, volunteering opportunities, documents and inspection information, reporting assistance, public data, City Council materials, economic information, business resources, and more. Resident Management For Public Housing: none River City Company: River City Company is the economic development engine for Downtown Chattanooga. River City Company’s vision is to create a world-class downtown for all and work toward that goal every day by fostering a vibrant and thriving downtown that is the economic, social, and cultural center of Chattanooga. River City Company’s current programs include downtown Chattanooga’s Thanksgiving celebration, Emerging Producers, the downtown street banner program, Miller Park programming, Scenic City Sideshows, Noontunes, Reindeer on the Riverfront and Lighted Boat Parade, Ice Cream Crawl, Summerween, Witch and Warlock Paddle, and Artspark. Current projects include the Chattanooga Express Card and development on Hawk Hill, Riverfront Parks, Broad Street, and the Riverfront District. River City Company also owns and operates Miller Plaza. Ross’s Landing Park And Plaza: Ross’s Landing is operated by Chattanooga’s parks and outdoors department. Facilities include an amphitheater, a river pier, Chattanooga Green, a handicapped-accessible playground, a marina, and walkways. Ross’s Landing is also open for reservations. Sign and Billboard Ordinance: Chattanooga’s Sign and Billboard Ordinance was updated on April 1, 2025 to allow more flexibility, clarity for businesses, and support for public art. Spouse Abuse Shelter (Chattanooga Safe Space): The Family Justice Center’s mission is to meet people where they are and provide inclusive survivor centered services that promote healing, transformation and hope for the future; foster public safety; and drive social change through education and coordinated community collaborations. The center offers counseling, a lethality assessment program, outreach, and community resources. Chattanooga Room in the Inn: Chattanooga Room in the Inn’s mission is to empower women and children experiencing homelessness to rebuild their lives by providing transitional housing, support, and hope. The Room in the Inn’s main program, Shelter to Stability, provides a safe and supportive place for homeless women and children to live, along with resources needed to move toward stability and to find permanent, safe housing. Other programs include child advocacy, an aftercare program, and a thrift store. Partnership for Families, Children and Adults: Partnership for Families, Children and Adults’ mission is to improve the lives of our neighbors through a continuum of emergency services, stability resources, and self-sufficiency programs, ensuring a stronger, safer, and more informed community for all. It offers victim support, including rape crisis support, domestic violence support, and a 24/7 crisis hotline; stability services for kids and youth, including the HOPE Initiative, life skills training, and transitional housing; deaf services, including interpreting services, ASL classes, case management, employment support, community engagement, and assistive technology; elder support services, including a home care program and senior volunteer opportunities; and family support services, including workshops for parents during divorce or separation. Teenage Pregnancy Task Force: none The Tennessee Aquarium: The Tennessee Aquarium’s mission is to connect people with nature and empower them to make informed decisions about water and wildlife. In addition to its exhibits, the Aquarium also offers special events and programs for youth and families, such as camps, Sea Sprouts, and Sleep in the Deep. The Aquarium is open for rentals. It also operates the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute, which furthers the Aquarium’s impact by conducting scientific studies, restoring the region’s natural ecosystems and educating members of the public to take conservation action. TNACI’s current projects include species conservation efforts for the Laurel Dace, lake sturgeons, Southern Appalachian brook trout, and barrens topminnow. The Tennessee Riverwalk: The Tennessee Riverwalk, also known as the Tennessee Riverpark, is a paved urban scenic pathway that runs for approximately 16 miles along the southern bank of the Tennessee River. The Riverwalk is operated by Chattanooga’s parks and outdoors department and can be used for bicycling, in-line skating, walking, jogging, and other fitness pursuits. The Chattanooga Rowing Center is located on the Riverwalk, as well as a kayak and canoe launch. A portion of the Riverwalk near the new Erlanger Park baseball stadium is currently subject to a temporary closure. Tivoli and Memorial Auditorium Renovation: The Tivoli Theatre Foundation operates the Tivoli Theatre, the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium, and the Walker Theatre. Alongside regular programming, the Tivoli Theatre Foundation hosts educational programs such as Camp Broadway, Summer Tech, and TivEd. The Tivoli also hosts the annual Jewel Awards. Walnut Street Bridge: The Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a historic truss bridge constructed in 1890 and designed by Edwin Thacher. It is operated by Chattanooga’s parks and outdoors department and is currently undergoing construction. Warner Park and Zoo improvements: The Chattanooga Zoo’s mission is to engage and inspire the Chattanooga community to better understand and preserve wildlife by creating meaningful connections between people and animals. In addition to its regular programming, the Zoo also participates in initiatives in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation, including the Hellbender Conservation Program, Species Survival Plan, and Saving Animals From Extinction. The Zoo also offers educational programs, including field trips, outreach, Zoo Camp, twilight programs, and other education opportunities for homeschool students, preschoolers, scouts, and teenagers, as well as teacher resources. The Zoo is available for event rentals. Warner Park also hosts the Warner Park Pool, Frost Stadium, Miracle Playground, and softball fields. Warner Park is operated by Chattanooga’s parks and outdoors department. — Greg Laudeman, Ed.D. Executive Officer and Principal Eduity, LLC www.eduity.net greg@eduity.net 706-271-5521