1517 Tombras Avenue
East Ridge, TN 37412
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Economic & Community Development Department plays a vital role in fostering growth and prosperity in the City of East Ridge. Committed to enhancing the community’s vibrancy, this department actively supports and promotes a variety of initiatives that make East Ridge a thriving place to live, work, and invest.
Through strategic grant funding opportunities, dynamic community outreach events, and meaningful business relationships, the department helps shape the City’s economic landscape. Key areas of focus include grant research, building strong partnerships with investors, serving as a liaison for the Border Region Incentive Program, and overseeing public relations efforts to showcase all that East Ridge has to offer.
Additionally, the department plays a crucial role in managing capital projects and infrastructure improvements, ensuring the City continues to grow in a way that benefits residents and businesses alike. By fostering innovation, collaboration, and progress, the Economic & Community Development Department is dedicated to making East Ridge a premier destination for economic opportunity and community enrichment.
As the Gateway to Tennessee, East Ridge strives to be to be the Pioneer of economic progress, where all people can reach their full potential while embracing culture, recreation, and family values.
Located on the Tennessee-Georgia line, the City of East Ridge has met the challenge of sales tax leakage across the border head-on with financial incentives and investments that have revitalized its downtown business district.
Since the region’s inception of the Border Region district, the city has seen sales tax growth of nearly $800 million. Those funds have been used to reinvest in growth and development, benefiting both East Ridge and surrounding areas of the state.
In recognition of the innovative efforts of the City of East Ridge to reinvest and reinvigorate its downtown and local business climate, the Tennessee Municipal League is pleased to present East Ridge with an award for Excellence in Economic Development.
» Crafting a Thriving Community Through Strategic Development , October 2024
Enabling legislation passed in 2011 by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor allowed municipalities that border other states and have an interstate highway running through them to apply for the designation through the state Commissioner of Revenue.
In October 2011, East Ridge received word that a tract of 950 acres inside the City was designated as a Border Region Retail Tourism Development District by the Tennessee State Commissioner of Revenue and the Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development under the new state law. The designation was approved after the city made application under a City ordinance adopted October 26, 2011.
The Border Region District comprises the areas around Exit One, the I-75/I-24 interchange, the East Ridge central business district along Ringgold Road, S. Moore Road, Germantown Road, and the area of East Ridge on the north side of I-24 along Germantown Road.
Designed to keep sales tax dollars in Tennessee by making its border cities more competitive, this legislation allows a city to enter into financial incentive agreements to spur new development within a prescribed area—its Border Region District. The city can then be reimbursed for the cost of those incentives by receiving a portion of the state’s share of increased sales tax revenue.
Below are a few of the businesses in East Ridge currently operating under a development agreement within the Border Region Retail Tourism District.
For more information regarding the Border Region Act, please email Cameron McAllister, Administrator of Economic & Community Development.
The purpose of the Building & Facade Improvement Grant, which targets commercial district businesses, is to revitalize the City’s central business corridor, beautify the center of East Ridge, and promote high-quality redevelopment in the city. All elements of this program play a part in the City’s economic and community development strategy.
The Building & Facade Improvement Grant is intended to assist new & existing businesses and property owners in East Ridge within the commercial business district to make their property and business more attractive to both consumers and potential tenants. The primary objective of the Building & Facade Improvement Grant is to remove blight by assisting commercial property owners with improving building appearance.
Eligible applicants will be applicants that are in the commercial business district corridor. Projects shall be accepted and approved on a first come-first-serve basis and will be accepted until all available funds are allocated. The Building & Facade Improvement Grant Program is based on a fiscal year and will be available for application starting July 1 of each fiscal year.
» Building and Facade Grant Application
For more information regarding the Building and Façade Grant please email Cameron McAllister, Administrator of Economic & Community Development, or call (423) 867-7711.
To submit Residential Facade Grant Applications please email Melissa Mahoney, Administrative Assistant, or call (423) 867-7711.
The East Ridge Chamber of Commerce is a chapter of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. Founded in 1887, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is the region’s leading business association with more than 1,600 member companies employing more than 10,000 people. The East Ridge chapter meets the first Thursday of each month from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Life Care Center of East Ridge. The membership fee is $15.00 per month.
The East Ridge Council of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce is committed to strengthening the local economy by promoting and meeting the needs of businesses. They are dedicated to driving economic development to new levels while opening government communication, engaging the community, and transforming East Ridge into the best community in which to live, worship and do business.
The East Ridge Optimist Club is a volunteer organization made up of more than 2,500 local club members who work each day to make the future brighter by bringing out the best in children, their communities, and in themselves. The mission of the club is to provide hope and positive vision as they operate as the premier volunteer organization that values all children and helps them develop to their full potential.
The purpose of the Optimist Club is to develop optimism as a philosophy of life utilizing the tenets of the optimist creed. They promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs, inspire respect for the law, promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among people. They aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others, will advance the well-being of humankind, community life, and the world.
The East Ridge Optimist Clubs meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm at East Ridge Community Center. You do not need to be a member to attend. All are welcome.
The East Ridge Helping Neighbors group is a non-profit organization founded in 2019 by local volunteers focused on establishing relationships and servicing disabled and eldering citizens within the City of East Ridge. The East Ridge Helping Neighbors group partners with Neighborhood Helpers Volunteer Ministry to aid with exterior repairs and yard clean-up for qualified applicants.
The East Ridge Helping Neighbors group meets the first Thursday of each month at 9am at Jack’s Restaurant in East Ridge.
If you’re interested in becoming a part of the team or would like to request assistance from this group, please email Daniel Beard or call (423) 567-4547.
East Ridge