Ask anyone what they love about living and working in greater Chattanooga, and the response will likely be about how it’s a great place to get outside. 

The natural treasures of the tri-state region enhance quality of life for the region’s residents, and are a valuable benefit for employers to attract new talent from across the country and the globe. The great outdoors generates an economic force of its own, especially for rural communities. Research illustrates that counties with outdoor recreation economies are more likely to attract new residents with greater wealth and have faster-growing wages than their non-recreation counterparts.

From parks to trails to rivers the outdoors are a special ingredient in the “secret sauce” of an economically vibrant community, one that is critical for people to stay and build well-rounded lives.

Bryan Wilkins, a native of the United Kingdom and a Plant Manager for Siemens Energy in Fort Payne, enjoys exploring his stomping grounds in northeast Alabama with his wife and twins. With 250 employees, Siemens Energy is one of the largest employers in the Fort Payne area. Wilkins emphasizes access to the outdoors, the local parks and unique underground caverns in north Alabama, as a meaningful way to establish work/life balance and spend quality time with his family.  

Ivette Moncus moved to America from Venezuela to study law and has put down roots in Dalton, Georgia. Moncus works for the Georgia Department of Labor and became a remote employee during the pandemic. Hiking area trails like Fort Mountain and Emery Creek with a small group became an uplifting way to stay active and meet friends during an isolating time.

By listening to residents and employees, and interpreting sound data, business and community leaders across the region continue to develop a keen understanding of the economic benefits of the outdoors and their power to attract and retain talent from across the world. These communities are prepared for growth, because they play to the strengths of their outdoor assets, leveraging them as a key livability characteristic that draws people and industry in to stay and play.  

In the Coalition of Hip Hideaways, Thrive partners with like-minded organizations across the country to learn best practices in economic development that enhance quality of life in our communities through outdoor recreation, creative expression, and cultural preservation.