Innovation District To Create 235 New Jobs With New Grant Program

  • Tuesday, February 16, 2016
  • Claire Henley Miller

Nick Wilkinson announced on Tuesday the plans to create 235 new jobs in the city of Chattanooga.

During the City Council agenda meeting, the deputy administrator of Economic Development presented the Innovation District Jobs Grant Program.

Mr. Wilkinson said Chattanooga was the first mid-sized city in America to create an Innovation District. The proposed program aims to help the district grow by giving grants to businesses that hire 25 or more new employees.

The first two companies to sign up for the program were VaynerMedia and Coyote Logistics. 

VaynerMedia, a prolific advertising company founded in 2009, expects to hire 75 new employees over the next three years. Coyote Logistics, a “major player” in the freight broker and third-party logistics industry, announced its plans to create 160 new jobs.

Both companies pay an average salary that is at or above the median salary in the metropolitan area, which is around $50,000, Mr. Wilkinson said.

The grant would pay $250 per new hire, meaning Vayner Media would receive a total of $18,750 in grant money, and Coyote Logistics a total of $40,000.

Representatives from both companies spoke before the City Council, proclaiming their excitement to participate in the program.

“We are committed to the Innovation District,” said Patrick Bobo, associate general counsel at Coyote Logistics.

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Chicago, Coyote Logistics planted a site in Chattanooga after a competitive search. With three other locations nationwide, VaynerMedia also chose Chattanooga as an area to grow its business.

According to Mickey Cloud, vice president at VaynerMedia, the company chose to extend its roots to Chattanooga because of the appeal of the Innovation District.

Both representatives agreed diversity in the workplace was very important, and would be taken into account when hiring new employees.  

Business/Government
Latest Bradley County Arrest Report
  • 3/27/2024

Click here for the latest Bradley County arrest report. more

Reed Named Firefighter Of The Year For 2nd Time
Reed Named Firefighter Of The Year For 2nd Time
  • 3/26/2024

For the second time the Dalton Fire Department is honoring Engineer Dale Reed as the agency's Firefighter of the Year for 2024. The award was decided by a vote of Engineer Reed's fellow firefighters. ... more