The Chattanooga Industrial Development Board (IDB) convened on August 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with seven members present (quorum confirmed). The meeting covered routine approvals, quarterly progress reports on major infrastructure projects, a detailed review of the city's pilot incentive program, a presentation on a proposed registered apprenticeship incentive for employers, and a contentious discussion regarding a notice of default on the Ben TIFF development agreement.
Everyone for I have some allergy stuff going on, so my voice is a little worse. But want to welcome you to the August IDB meeting. We'll call the meeting to order now. It's 11 o'clock. We have confirmation that the meeting was advertised. We do have a quorum present with seven members. We'll move into the approval of our minutes. First of all, we need to approve the record of the meeting that was canceled June 1st. And so that was recorded. Can I get in a um motion to approve that? So move. Second. Second. All those in favor? All right. Thank you. And then we did hold um a special call meeting July 8th of 2026. Those meetings and transcripts are in your documents. Can I get a motion to approve those minutes? All those in favor? So now we'll recognize anybody wishing to address the board at this time. Is there anybody here? Morning. Morning. Morning. My name is Philip Bernie, and I'm with the Iron Workers of Local International here in Chattanooga. And I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to address the body with thoughts pertaining to workforce development and investment in our community. Again, like I said, my name is Philip Bernie. I'm with the local, I'm the training director for the registered apprenticeship that we run. For over 80 years, the iron workers have trained local men and women with sustainable careers in the construction industry. Each construction trade offers their own program, facilities, and training necessary to provide a highly performed uh highly skilled trade for men and women. Each of our programs are registered with the United States Department of Labor, and we follow all state and federal apprenticeship standards. In preparation for my comments, I want to provide clarity on a couple of points I thought pertained to the registered apprenticeship program. Our program, our program is entirely self-funded. We see we receive no grants from state or federal entities. Just an important, we are recruiting and training locally. Uh we incorporate apprentices from Chattanooga and the surrounding areas, including youth, uh young people from around the uh under uh underserved communities. Uh for many of them, an apprenticeship is more than just a job, it's an opportunity to learn a craft, earn a living, and build a sustainable future for themselves and their families. Historically, registered apprenticeships has not only helped them but created opportunities for family members uh in the future. Uh I think about one of our apprentices. Uh his name was Jamani Thomas, and then in particular, who lived at College Hills Court. He wanted to better his future and work harder for it. Um there was times that he would actually walk to our apprenticeship program, and it was about five miles from where he's lived at. He would walk to school. Uh when projects like the Chattanooga Football Club building, Erlanger Park, and embassy suites were being built, he could have practically walked to those jobs to go to work. This young man had to quit because he didn't have no way to get transportation to jobs. And he told our former business manager that he just wanted to get to where he could own get a living to cut his own grass. That you know, I thought to myself, man, you know, he wants to cut his own grass, and most of us think that's a chore. So he's one of the guys that comes to mind about all this stuff coming up around around the area. But those jobs, unfortunately, were awarded to contractors, did not prioritize community or value the partnership with the registered apprenticeship programs.