Pledges amounting to $8 million have been committed to Chattanooga CAN DO, the second four-year job creation phase of the comprehensive economic development strategy launched in 2003 under the Tell the World! banner.

More than 300 business and community leaders attended the kick off breakfast for the $10 million job growth campaign, cochaired by Frank Schriner, president of First Tennessee and Chamber board chair, and Michael Butler, CEO of SunTrust Bank.

Tell the World! is now in the last year of a four-year, $9 million economic development program designed to help existing business expand and to attract new business and industry to he region. Primary goals of Chattanooga CAN DO are to increase employment in the region by 15,573 jobs, including 7,500 highwage jobs, through 60 new and expanded businesses.

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey and Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield, who participated in the kick off, stressed the importance of maintaining cooperation among all levels of government and the business community to continue the success of Chattanooga’s economic development efforts.

They also noted job projects by T-Mobile,Wrigley and others since Tell the World! began in 2003.