Chattanooga 2.0 and Partners Join Bloomberg Philanthropies’ $90 Million National Initiative to Accelerate High School Students into High-Wage, In-Demand Trade Careers

CHATTANOOGA-HAMILTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE – June 8, 2026 — Chattanooga 2.0, Hamilton County Schools, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of East Tennessee, IBEW Local 175, and UA Local 43 Steamfitters and Pipefitters announced today they are one of nine geographies in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ new $90 million initiative to change how high school students prepare for and enter Registered Apprenticeships and high-wage, family-sustaining careers in the skilled trades. It is the first national program exclusively for high schoolers, giving them a more direct path to career-ready certification and careers. In Chattanooga-Hamilton County, TN, localized labor market data shows acute labor shortages and long-term projections for career growth in the trades.

 

The initiative, which is free for students, will focus on infrastructure-related fields including electrical work, construction, plumbing, welding, HVAC, and line working. In Chattanooga-Hamilton County, the initiative will receive $9 million in support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and serve approximately 600 high school students annually, connecting early career exposure with a structured, progressive high school curriculum. Students will participate in pre-apprenticeship or work-based learning opportunities that lead directly into registered apprenticeship placements, all supported by improved educational facilities.

 

Hamilton County leaders emphasized the initiative’s importance for both workforce development and student opportunity. “Through this collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies, we’re creating new pathways for students to enter the skilled trades through hands-on training, paid work-based learning, and Registered Apprenticeships,” said Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp. “By bringing together schools, employers, labor organizations, and local government, we’re helping more young people connect directly with high-demand careers while strengthening the workforce that powers our economy. We’re proud for Hamilton County to be among the communities leading the way in expanding these opportunities.”

 

“This investment validates Chattanooga’s collaborative strength in bringing schools, industry, and civic leaders together,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. “By expanding Chattanooga 2.0’s pathways into the skilled trades, we are directly advancing the One Chattanooga vision—giving students the support they need to explore their interests, build in-demand skills, and launch thriving-wage careers right here at home.”

 

The new initiative responds to both growing student interest in skilled trades careers and the rising national demand for qualified workers in these fields. Across the Chattanooga region, there is an estimated demand for more than 1,160 skilled trades jobs in the next year alone in construction trades, HVAC, welding, and line working, reflecting a widening national gap between available jobs and qualified workers. This creates significant opportunities for students seeking high-demand, well-paying careers.

Chattanooga 2.0, Hamilton County Schools, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of East Tennessee, IBEW Local 175, and UA Local 43 Steamfitters and Pipefitters will work together to create a structured, industry-informed pathway that prepares students for high-demand careers in the skilled trades. The high school curriculum will introduce students to 13 skilled trades while building foundational and technical skills through safety training, hands-on learning, real-world application, along with focused work-based learning opportunities that connect directly to Registered Apprenticeships after graduation. Upon completion, graduates will be prepared to transition into full-time employment at an advanced pay grade in the in-demand fields of electrical work, construction, plumbing, welding, HVAC, and line working—industries that are critically needed across the Chattanooga-Hamilton County region.

 

For Hamilton County Schools, the initiative builds on existing efforts to connect classroom learning with real-world career pathways. “Expanding skilled trades pathways is critical to ensuring each and every student has intentional opportunities to build skills, industry connections, and confidence that connect education to thriving-wage careers after graduation,” shared Dr. Justin Robertson, Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. “Bloomberg Philanthropies’ investment reflects the momentum in Hamilton County, signaling what is possible when education, industry, and community align around student success.”

Hamilton County Schools’ Future Ready Students model prepares students for success in postsecondary education and the workforce through hands-on, skills-based learning experiences in career and technical education. Through its Future Ready Centers, students gain exposure to the technologies, equipment, principles, and industry practices they will encounter after graduation in high-demand careers across Chattanooga and Tennessee, while building confidence and real-world skills. Students are equipped with the skills and professional connections to take meaningful next steps toward college, careers, and thriving futures.

 

Industry and labor partners say the initiative addresses an urgent workforce need while creating stronger pathways for students into family-sustaining careers. Leslie Gower, CEO of AGC East Tennessee noted, “The solution to the labor shortage in construction starts with showing young people the strong opportunity that exists in the skilled trades. This partnership creates clear, supported pathways for the next generation of builders, tradespeople, and leaders. East Tennessee’s construction community is committed to investing in those pathways, because the young people we help into careers today are the ones who will build this region’s future.”

 

As demand for skilled electrical workers continues to grow, labor leaders see apprenticeship pathways as a critical talent pipeline. “The electrical industry is growing at a pace we’ve not seen in our lifetime, and the IBEW is excited to partner with our county schools to ensure we properly prepare young people to enter our joint apprenticeship programs and embark on a path to family-sustaining careers in the trade,” explained Curtis Sharpe, International Vice President for IBEW Tenth District.

For UA Local 43, early exposure to the skilled trades is an investment in both students and the region’s long-term infrastructure needs. Joe Coke, President and Training Coordinator of UA Local 43 Plumbers and Steamfitters, said, “By investing in student exposure and availability to apprenticeships in welding, pipefitting, plumbing, and HVAC, The United Association and Local 43 are not just training workers — they are building the future backbone of our communities. Skilled trades create careers with purpose, strengthen our infrastructure, and ensure the next generation is prepared to meet the demands of an evolving workforce with a sustainable wage, knowledge, craftsmanship, and pride.”

Bloomberg Philanthropies’ investment will help build a stronger, more connected pipeline from high school to high-wage skilled trades careers for Chattanooga-Hamilton County students. Funding will support capital investments and purchase of additional equipment and supplies to support high-quality training across Future Ready Centers and the Construction Career Center, program delivery, hiring of expert technical personnel to increase available Registered Apprenticeship placements, and consulting services, including the development of a competency-based portfolio system that provides a validated record of student skills and readiness for employers and unions.

 

“Millions of good-paying jobs are going unfilled, and too many students never get a chance to learn the skills necessary to get them. This new initiative will help change that,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term mayor of New York City. “By bringing schools, unions, and employers together as partners, we can offer students free training and credentials that lead directly to rewarding careers. Jobs in the skilled trades helped build America’s middle class, and now they can help a new generation enter and strengthen it.”

 

Bloomberg Philanthropies has been committed to creating sustainable, long-term models of workforce development and economic independence. Since 2016, Bloomberg Philanthropies has supported innovative Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs around the country to create strong career opportunities in high-growth industries for over 300,000 students. Students have gained relevant experience and recognized credentials through internships, apprenticeships, academics, and work-based learning. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced the creation of high schools around the nation that pair public education systems and hospitals to directly graduate students into high-demand healthcare jobs with family-sustaining wages. This initiative is now in 13 communities.

 

Chattanooga 2.0 is a nonprofit organization working to improve economic opportunity and quality of life in Chattanooga and Hamilton County through education, career access, and systems change. Founded in 2015, Chattanooga 2.0 convenes cross-sector partners to remove barriers and create lasting, generational change from early childhood through thriving-wage careers. Chattanooga 2.0 leads collaborative initiatives across early childhood, literacy, college and career readiness, and workforce development to improve outcomes for children and families. Through its Viable Pathways to Prosperity initiative, Chattanooga 2.0 works with schools, employers, and training partners to expand access to high-quality career pathways aligned to thriving-wage, high-demand industries.

Hamilton County Schools (HCS) serves nearly 45,000 students across Hamilton County and is committed to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and support to thrive in life so that all children can experience a future without limits. HCS works to develop graduates who are connected, competitive, and life-ready by prioritizing both academic achievement and essential real-world skills through its “Portrait of a Graduate,” with an emphasis on problem-solving, effective communication, cultural inclusivity, and resiliency. Through strong school, family, and community partnerships, HCS is committed to expanding meaningful opportunities that prepare students for success in college, career, apprenticeships, and beyond.

AGC East Tennessee represents more than 200 commercial construction companies across East Tennessee and serves as a leading advocate, educator, supporter, and connection point for professionals in the commercial construction industry. Founded in 1927 as a chapter of AGC of America, the nation’s leading association for commercial construction, AGC East Tennessee is dedicated to strengthening the industry by shaping policy, building a stronger workforce, elevating industry standards, and uniting construction executives and workers through a shared commitment to advancing commercial construction.

IBEW Local 175 represents more than 3,600 electrical workers across Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia, and Northeast Alabama and maintains a continued mission to support and organize workers throughout the electrical industry. Chartered in 1912, IBEW Local 175 shares the mission common to all IBEW local unions: promoting reasonable methods of work, fostering solidarity among workers, supporting dispute resolution through arbitration when possible, assisting members in times of sickness or distress, securing employment opportunities, advocating for adequate pay and reduced labor hours, and advancing a higher standard of living, security, and citizenship for members and their families.

 

 UA Local 43 represents more than 1,100 plumbers and steamfitters across the Tennessee Valley and maintains a continued mission to provide a highly skilled workforce for contractors and customers throughout the piping industry. Chartered in 1890, UA Local 43 Plumbers and Steamfitters has served the region for more than 130 years, prioritizing high standards for recruitment and training through a state-of-the-art training facility and continuous skill development to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Through collective bargaining and collaboration with contractors, Local 43 works to preserve organized labor, support strong wages, healthcare, retirement benefits, and a 40-hour work week, while contributing to major regional infrastructure across industries including healthcare, higher education, manufacturing, power generation, and public attractions.

 

Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2025, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $4.3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.

Jennifer Andrews, Chattanooga 2.0: jennifer@chatt2.org

Rachel Nagler, Bloomberg Philanthropies: racheln@bloomberg.org