Posted, September 2006

Chattanooga, Tennessee – The Market Center Council of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce will host the 4th Annual Heart of the City Celebration at Miller Plaza from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, September 29.

Heart of the City celebrates Chattanooga, its people and its businesses by attracting increased pedestrian traffic to benefit the surrounding business community.

Everyone is invited to attend the celebration and enjoy live music and street entertainers, fresh produce, works from local artists and galleries and great food from area restaurants.

"As we celebrate our city, we can learn more details about the heart of Chattanooga and its future," said Market Center Council Secretary and Heart of the City Co-chair Brian Clarke of Derthick, Henley and Wilkerson Architects. "There will be opportunities for business exposure and to improve networking and partnerships. The celebration will include updates on future downtown developments and the introduction of the current downtown master planning led by RiverCity Company."

Around 11:30 a.m. the highlights include public addresses by City Mayor Ron Littlefield, Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools Dr. Jim Scales and Chamber President and CEO Tom Edd Wilson. The event will also offer EPB presentations on Green Power, Power Share and Enhanced Growth Credit; a presentation of window displays, representing a collaboration of local businesses with UTC interior design students; and outdoor initiatives of Chattanooga.

"Heart of the City is in keeping with Market Center Council’s mission of aiding in the revitalization of a cohesive and vibrant business district in downtown Chattanooga," Clarke said. Event co-chair Bruce Baird of Bruce Baird & Company, said "I believe in downtown; it’s exciting, busy, and growing. Come on down!"

The primary sponsors of the event are UnumProvident Corp. and First Tennessee with partners EPB, Luken Holdings, and SunTrust Bank.