Cleveland mayor Tom Rowland listed a string of accomplishments for his city in his annual state of the city report to the Cleveland Kiwanis Club on Thursday.
This was the 21st year Mayor Rowland has delivered his report. He is Cleveland's longest serving mayor and the second longest serving in Tennessee.
Here is the full speech:
Your city had a strong and successful year in 2014. The year that just ended was also a time to take some positive steps towards the future - from continuing road construction projects to a new high school gym to a pioneering partnership with the University of Tennessee and more.
RECOGNITIONS -The city collected an impressive list of accolades in 2014.
In February, USA Weekend, supported by the Newman's Own Foundation and Points of Light Foundation, named Cleveland as one of three cities across the nation to be honored for participation in the October, 2013 Make A Difference Day.
Cleveland was recognized for having 800 volunteers turn out for dozens of projects - on just one weekend. The projects included a YMCA jobs fair where 64 people found jobs; Lee University students filling backpacks with snacks and basic toiletries for 10,000 children; a charity walk that raised $15,000 to benefit 200 children served by Court Appointed Special Advocates; a Habitat For Humanity fundraising event to support building two homes. Meanwhile, People For Care and Learning raised funds to build homes and a sewer system for a new village in Cambodia.
Of course many of our citizens make a difference every day. We take part in charitable events, support good causes every day. Making a difference can be something as simple as checking on an elderly neighbor. We are indeed a city with a caring spirit.
We were recognized in 2014 for economic success too.
Cleveland was recognized last year as one of the top cities in in the nation in “giving to church and charities.”
Forbes Magazine included the Cleveland Metropolitan Statistical Area as one of the nation's best places for business and careers.
In August, NerdWallet.com, which describes itself as a "consumer focused website" and is often quoted in national media, ranked Cleveland seventh on its list of "cities on the rise in Tennessee."
Talent Tribune, which calls itself a "data driven" national human resources blog, used numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to rank The Cleveland Metropolitan Statistical Area sixth nationally for construction jobs, a reflection of the ongoing work at Wacker Chemie and other sites.
Moody's Analytics, an arm of Moody's Investor Services, ranked Cleveland second only to Nashville for overall economic performance. Along with a diverse and thriving industrial base, we saw several new small businesses open in 2014. Those new enterprises likewise represent a diversity of services, from restaurants to healthcare.
"Area Development" magazine compared 21 economic and workforce indicators across 379 MSAs and ranked Cleveland 127 compared to all MSAs and 44 when comparison is limited to the 240 MSAs in the U.S.
Cleveland received its 22nd consecutive annual Tree City USA flag from the National Arbor Day Foundation. Cleveland Utilities continued its collection of annual Tree Line City Awards from the Arbor Day Foundation. We are a city that realizes a good appearance is a big attraction for new businesses, residents and visitors.
The city's department heads and budget officers just received recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. That organization's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the current budget year is Cleveland's 17th consecutive award. That kind of recognition reassures our citizens that their city is being a good steward of their money.
CITY COUNCIL No one person can take credit for our city’s accomplishments. It takes teamwork. I am blessed to serve with a City Council and City Manager who are each passionate about progress and quality growth of our City.
I can tell you that every day members of the Council are speaking with constituents and are always attempting to resolve problems.
JETPORT - The Tennessee Aeronautics Administration named The Cleveland Jetport as the 2014 best airport in the state. The jetport is just beginning its third year of operation this January. But already it has become an important asset to our business and industrial community and a venue for community events.
In recent weeks several aircraft were diverted to Cleveland due to fog at the Chattanooga airport.
Last fall the first international flight originated in Cleveland. Since that time we have had several. Now, we are working towards having a U.S. Customs inspector here. Business leaders from international corporations with facilities here and others who may be considering us for the future could fly directly into Cleveland without required stopovers elsewhere in the U.S. for Customs inspections.
The Cleveland Municipal Airport Authority has authorized a 500 foot extension to the main runway. That will enhance the jetport's capabilities even more.
As a local venue, the jetport hosted a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II last March, drawing many young flying enthusiasts from across the region. The jetport was also the scene of automobile events, including the Chattanooga Region, Sports Car Clubs of America. It's meeting space was used by a growing number of local organizations during the year.
TRANSPORTATION - Our streets continued to be a top priority both for the city and the Tennessee Department of Transportation in 2014. The work to widen and improve Exit 20 at I-75 continues. It is projected to be completed in late 2015 and bring an end to what has been one of our major traffic bottlenecks for years.
Last October, TDOT placed a high priority on construction bidding for an APD 40 interchange between I-75 and U.S.11 (or South Lee Highway). The interchange is expected to be completed by October, 2016. It will open new areas on APD 40 to development.
The interchange will make access easier for the new Spring Branch Industrial Park. The new industrial park will be an attractive location for industries, including those associated with Volkswagen just a few minutes drive away. Now that Volkswagen has announced it will add the seven-seat version of its new CrossBlue SUV to the Chattanooga facility, Spring Branch will be an even more significant location for related industries.
I am honored that the state legislature gave the future interchange my name. That news was very humbling.
There were other state road projects here in 2014. TDOT awarded the city a $961,624 Intermodal Access Fund grant for sidewalks and bus shelters in the Wildwood Avenue and Dalton Pike area. Another TDOT project brought improvements to Durkee Road which will benefit traffic related to the new Whirlpool plant.
The Cleveland Urban Area Transportation Service continues to report ridership growth. Last October CUATS recorded 11,587 rides on its fixed routes for the month - reflecting the number of rides, not the number of riders. It was the highest monthly ridership recorded on fixed routes in the nearly ten year history of the bus service. Our bus service is provided locally through the Southeast Tennessee Human Resources Agency. It also provides an on-demand service for those who can't physically get to the bus stops if they register for the service in advance. As more people learn about this low cost transportation service, ridership may grow even more.
INDUSTRY - Our industrial community was very active in 2014 and that activity will continue in the current year.
Our industries continue to expand. Wacker expects to reach its peak construction workforce in mid-2015 at 2,200 employees. Completion is expected in the last quarter of the year. Total investment is currently estimated at $2.4 billion.
The final group of employees at Whirlpool are scheduled to move into the new facility in mid 2015.
Our industry prospect inquiries this past year increased. This past year we had 54 inquiries, compared to 20 in 2013. .
Inquiries about the Cleveland area from other industries are growing daily. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Doug Berry, vice president of the Chamber’s economic development and Ross Tarver, chair of the industrial development board. We are blessed with great Chamber leadership and it shows in our industrial growth through these past few years.
Meanwhile businessman Allan Jones bought Hardwick Clothes, Inc. in June, 2014. One of America's iconic brands, Hardwick has been in operation here since July 28, 1880. Allan Jones' purchase ensures America's oldest maker of tailored clothing and 240 jobs remain in Cleveland. And the “made in Cleveland, TN” label will be sewn in designs of the future.
RECREATION - A city's quality of life, including recreation opportunities, is important to families as well as business prospects.
The city replaced an aging swimming pool with a larger, new Mosby Pool. The new pool includes features like a splash pad for kids and handicapped access. Now, there are new pools and playgrounds at both the South Cleveland Recreation Center and Mosby Park and new playground equipment at Tinsley Park.
The city is working on plans to add to the Cleveland/Bradley County Greenway. As the year ended, the growing popularity of the greenway park near Raider Drive was recognized by giving it an official name - Greenway Park. The Greenway Board has plans to add an outdoor stage there.
The greenway itself continue to grow in popularity in 2014 as a place for events like Chalk The Walk, a new arts festival presented by the Greenway Public Arts Committee, and a dog show called "Waggin' On The Way."
And planning continues to create greenway features in other parts of the city. A recent survey by University of Tennessee students shows Cleveland residents are proud of their greenway and use it often. Soon, a Veterans Park to salute veterans to salute veterans past and present will be located near the Greenway extension at Spring Creek. Thanks to Lee University and the Woodmen of the World and others who have purchased trees and memorial markers, enough money has been raised to complete this project. We are just waiting for a construction project to end in order to gain access.
SMART COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE - That survey is just one of many results from a unique partnership between Cleveland and the University of Tennessee in 2014 and 2015.
It is called the Smart Communities Initiative. This pilot program brings students from many areas of study to our city. The students work with local experts, including city staff, on local projects that match their fields of study. The students gain real world experience. The city benefits from the data, planning and other work produced by the students.
As the new year begins, we are beginning to see some of the results.
Some of the projects include water quality and stormwater infrastructure mapping; various plans for Inman Street improvements; a proposed Woolen Mill Branch greenway extension; a Cherokee Hotel (Cleveland Summit) renovation plan; a Bradley County Health Department renovation plan; the potential for a downtown ice skating rink; redevelopment ideas for the city's former downtown industrial areas; a central city housing needs survey; Blythe Avenue and Dalton Pike neighborhood improvement plans and developing a city branding plan for future marketing campaigns.
The students, including some from Lee, are working with concerned organizations like Habitat For Humanity and Impact Cleveland to come up with new ideas.
DOWNTOWN – Another university created big news for downtown in 2014. Lee University opened its 41,000 square-foot Communications Arts Building at Central Avenue and Ocoee Street last fall. Lee students, faculty and visitors are more than ever in the heart of downtown.
Pangle Hall opened last fall as a performance hall just across Church Street from the new Communications Arts Building. It is downtown's newest performance venue. Pangle Hall is already off to a great musical 2015 with a jazz concert earlier this month.
Another down town music feature celebrated a milestone anniversary last summer. Evening Shades is an outdoor concert series held each Friday evening in May at Johnston Park, o
organized by the Allied Arts Council of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, the series observed its 20th anniversary.
EDUCATION - Schools are always a vital part of our community's quality of life. In 2014 your Cleveland City School System had several big news stories to tell.
In June the aging Cleveland High School Dome was demolished for public safety reasons. Now construction is underway for a new CHS gymnasium to be ready in January, 2016, weather permitting. The new gym will have a 2,700 seating capacity, compared to 1,500 in the old dome. Other features include classrooms and a fitness room. The new facility will bring a new era of sports competitions, graduations and community events to the CHS campus.
But there was more great CHS news last year. Cleveland High School's Athena Davis was one of five "Top Teachers" finalists from across the U.S. featured on the ABC television network's "Live with Kelly and Michael."
The Cleveland High School Blue Raiders began 2015 by announcing a new football coach. We welcome Coach Scott Cummings, formerly of Knox West High School, to the City With Spirit.
Dr. Martin Ringstaff, our Cleveland school's director, was named Southeast Tennessee Superintendent of the Year.
Cleveland State Community College began 2014 with a new president, Dr. William "Bill" Seymour was chosen by the Tennessee Board of Regents to lead the campus here.
The Chambers' Tennessee Scholars program enrolled over 1.200 students from the three high schools last year. This is a promising indicator about future workforce.
On a visit to Knoxville recently, the President proposed copying our Tennessee Promise Program. But it is interesting to note that former Kiwanis Club member and businessman Allan Jones began a similar program with his personal funds about four years ago, financing local students who attend Cleveland State Community College.
CITY - Our Department of Public Works began weekly collection of brush and debris on all ten routes. It is an increase from the previous once every two week schedule, a benefit to our citizens and property owners. Public Works crews were called on during the year for drainage and street work, autumn leaf collection and so much more. They are also a big factor in our city's quality of life.
In June, 2014, the Insurance Services Organization reaffirmed the Cleveland Fire Department's fire protection rating number of "three." With "ten" being the worst rating, only a few elite departments across the country rate a "three" or higher. It is continued good news for our property owners' insurance rates.
Meanwhile our Cleveland Police Department continues to hold national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement. Our men and women in blue meet CALEA's highest standards. Not many police departments across the country hold that status.
Cleveland Utilities celebrated its 75th anniversary last summer. Cleveland Utilities' has earned a reputation for great public service. That reputation grew in 2014 when the American Public Power Association ranked CU at the diamond level - the highest level - for reliable service.
CU is known for its innovation as well. It added its first electric hybrid bucket truck to its fleet in 2014, purchased as part of the Plug-in Hybrid program, administered through the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Electric Power Research Institute.
CONTINUING IN 2015 - Our new year started with an added convenience for city residence. Thanks to work done by our Finance Office and action taken by the City Council, you can sign up now for partial, monthly tax payments. That must be done by February 15 for the taxes levied next October.
Many citizens have asked for this convenience for their own budgeting.
Cleveland has begun a long-term flood study through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address the persistent issue of flooding in some areas. The Corps will be reporting some of its findings soon.
And many people in our community continue to work towards the day when we have a Southeast Tennessee veterans home here. Site issues have been resolved. We continue to hold a strong position on the Veterans Administration funding priority list. We believe it's only a matter of time until this dream is a reality.