Young professionals say life in Chattanooga is good, even though they don’t think the city is perfect.

That’s according to a study released Friday by the Young Professionals Association of Chattanooga. Among the city’s positives are short commutes to work and play, community vitality, a vibrant social setting and a low cost of living, respondents said.

Armed with the data, local leaders want to find ways to attract more 20, 30 and 40-somethings to the area, while trying to keep the young people already here.

“We want to highlight the areas we can sell to young professionals and work on the areas that aren’t so good,” said Kate West, 36, president of the association.

The poll asked 300 working people in Chattanooga, and respondents received a Starbucks gift card for their participation, said Ray West, 41, Mrs. West’s husband and the association’s vice president.

Forty-nine percent of respondents had a somewhat positive view and 40 percent had a very positive perception of the quality of life in Chattanooga, according to the study. The remaining 11 percent either had a neutral or somewhat negative view of the community, the study said.

Fifty-seven percent of respondents were between 20 and 29 years old, the study said. Thirty-five percent were 30 to 39 years old, 6 percent were between 40 and 49 years old, and the remaining 2 percent were over 50, the study said.

Forty-six percent of respondents said they promote the city, telling others that it’s a good place to live, but 19 percent of respondents did not recommend Chattanooga and instead told outsiders not to live here.

Eighty-six percent of respondents had a four-year college degree or higher, according to the study, while 8 percent had a two-year degree and 6 percent had only a high school diploma.

The biggest negative came down to money.

“Pay was a big one, but cost of lifestyle was really good for us,” Ms. West said. “Pay was part of it, but that’s not the only issue. It’s also the potential for advancement. A lot of people in our age group feel like they are earning what they should be for their experience, but the potential for advancement may not be there.”

The Young Professionals Association now will form a task force with business leaders, the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Ron Littlefield’s office to examine ways to attract and retain young professionals, Mr. West said.

City Councilman Manny Rico said finding ways to keep young professionals here is key for the community’s future.

“These are the people that are going to take care of us old people and get things done,” he said. “So it’s really important for them to get involved (in our community) at a younger age.”

If they find that advancement opportunities aren’t available at their desk-and-cubicle job, Mr. Rico recommends going into business for themselves. He owns a St. Elmo monument company.

“I always tell people they don’t have to go to work for someone else. You can work for yourself. I like the freedom it gives you, not necessarily the money,” he said. “You can do things like being in public official, engage in civic organizations where you give back to the community.”

The Young Professionals Association funded the survey, while the chamber paid for the Starbucks cards. Next Generation Consulting performed the survey.

Comments