Chattanooga 2.0

Community-led education transformation initiative addressing workforce preparation for Hamilton County's economic growth

Whiteboard partnered with Chattanooga 2.0 coordinator Jared Bigham to address a critical workforce preparation challenge facing Hamilton County's rapidly expanding economy. With nearly 10,000 new jobs projected for the region through automotive manufacturing and advanced industries growth, the initiative responds to a significant skills gap where 55% of available positions require postsecondary credentials, yet only 38% of local residents possess such qualifications. Chattanooga 2.0 represents a community-led movement to transform educational and workforce opportunities by establishing an ambitious goal of 75% postsecondary educational attainment by 2025. This means ensuring three of every four Hamilton County residents graduate with certificates, two-year degrees, or four-year degrees. Our partnership included developing foundational design standards for the initiative and creating initial report and summary documents that communicate the urgency and opportunity of this transformative education agenda. Working collaboratively, we established visual systems that effectively communicate complex workforce data while inspiring community action toward this essential economic and social development goal.