• To form and help steering committees grasp the energize east ridge vision, mission, and goals.
• Energize the board, steering committees and general public’s interest in this vision.
• To ascertain steering committee and board members perspective as to ERRP’s direction and scope as leaders of an economic development organization serving the city of East Ridge.
• Ensure the Energize East ridge short-term and long-term vision is addressed and completed to the best of our ability
• To include the public and private sector for opinions, recommendations and modifications to the Energize East Ridge vision.

ERRP Committees and Tasks

Tennessee’s first exit off I-75 is regarded as an unrealized opportunity for economic development and as an entry into the city.  Ideas about Exit One attracted more votes than any other theme during the Energize East Ridge forums.

 Tasks

·      City take over the maintenance of Exit One from TDOT
·         Identify and erect and American flag, a State flag and a City flag to attract people off of Exit one into our city.
·         Form a public/private partnership with the city of East Ridge and business owners in the Exit One business district and prepares a plan to identify development priorities and encourage certain types of investment

Stretching five miles from Missionary Ridge to the Georgia line Ringgold Road is the main artery of our city.  As Ringgold road goes, so does our city.  Energize East Ridge participants envision an appealing, pedestrian and bike friendly streetscape and bearing a name more befitting East Ridge.

 Tasks

·         Identify pockets of development and beautification opportunities along the way that can be catalysts for longer-term change
·         When the location is identified, work with planners to design the size and number of curb cuts, the width of the sidewalks and bike routes, the quality of the streetscape and the amount and size of signage.
·         Form a public/private partnership with the city and business owner(s) to develp a plan on right-of-ways and investment 

Homes and Neighborhoods

East Ridge should aspire to become the kind of neighborhood community young families, professionals, and retirees find attractive.  To that end, participants from the Energize East Ridge forums would like to see East Ridge an attractive place to live. Successful residential development and recruitment can have a positive impact on the schools, business community and the government.

 Tasks

·         Identify and start the process to create a dog park as a way to attract young professionals to invest in starter homes in our city.
·         Research ways the city could have less rental property and more owner-occupied homes.
·         Look into the possibility of the city operating a state of the art child development center.  

Codes Enforcement

The idea of codes enforcement was the fourth most popular category from the public forum.  The public would like to understand more about what codes are in place and how they were not being enforced.

 Tasks

·         Work with the city on a review of code enforcement policies currently in place.
·         Help the city look at ways to refine, add and delete ordinances and policies.
·         Mount a public information campaign with citizens to inform them ways they report violations and the actions that can realistically be taken.
·         Look at forming a volunteer patrol to report violations to the city.