County Mayor Jim Coppinger told members of the Pachyderm Club that he plans to run for a new four-year term in next year's election.
A former County Commissioner member, he was appointed county mayor Jan. 22, 2011, after County Mayor Claude Ramsey became deputy governor.
County Mayor Coppinger won two more years in an election in August 2012.
He told the club that the county is in a strong financial position with $110 million in the "rainy day fund."
That is a key factor, he said, in the county receiving a Triple A bond rating from all three rating services.
He said some other governments say they have the same rating, but he said they dismiss agencies that don't give them the top ranking.
County Mayor Coppinger said during his two and a half years in office that 6,962 jobs have been created here. He said there have been 27 new businesses and 54 expansions.
He said a key component are industries that expand. He cited LJT at the Riverport that took over from Huntco. It has gone from five employees to 250.
The speaker said the business development center in Norh Chattanooga "has been a phenomenal success." He said it will soon have its 500th graduate, and 90 percent of the graduates are still in business after five years.
There are currently 75 businesses with 395 employees at the center.
He said the "Pathways to Prosperity" program holds promise of helping to boost local business, including training workers.