Invest Chattanooga announces that Matt Bedsole has accepted the role of president and chief executive officer.
Invest Chattanooga was launched by the city to help with housing affordability, creating new pathways for public-private partnerships in mixed-income housing. Over 20 years, it is anticipated that Invest Chattanooga’s $20 million fund will lead to the development of $400 million worth of mixed-income housing.
Mr. Bedsole brings experience in structuring complex public-private partnerships, securing capital from diverse sources and maximizing social returns through efficient operations. He is an expert at creating permanently affordable housing that does not rely on traditional federal subsidies, said officials.
“Creating more housing options for every resident is what Invest Chattanooga is all about,” said Mayor Tim Kelly. “Matt Bedsole is an inspired builder of bold public-private initiatives. We are thrilled to have him on board to lead this effort.”
Mr. Bedsole most recently helped position Atlanta as a hub for housing impact investment, repositioning over $100 million in public land for housing and structuring catalytic projects like the $120 million Midtown Fire Station redevelopment. As director of the Housing Innovation Lab in the city of Atlanta Mayor’s Office, he led a team of housing development and policy experts. He led the conceptualization, launch and ongoing support of the Atlanta Urban Development Corporation, the model for Invest Chattanooga, and secured a $38 million Housing Production Fund to finance new mixed-income developments.
His work includes experience at HR&A Advisors and APD Urban Planning & Management, where he consulted at the intersection of housing finance, public-private partnerships and community resilience across cities like Detroit, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.
“I’m honored to join the team in Chattanooga and help advance one of the most innovative local housing efforts in the country,” said Mr. Bedsole. “Invest Chattanooga’s model—co-investing public funds with private and nonprofit partners to secure permanent affordability and shared returns—allows us to move quickly to deliver mixed-income housing and ensure affordability remains part of the city’s long-term growth story.”