Thrive Announces New Resource Hub for Community Development

Chattanooga, TN – The population of the tri-state greater Chattanooga region is projected to grow to a million and a half people by 2055. With population and economic growth comes greater pressure on the region’s natural environment and infrastructure, as well as the opportunity for local communities to plan for growth in a way that prioritizes livability and celebrates a sense of place.

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Reliable data is an essential tool for making thoughtful decisions around growth. Data is plentiful, but not easily accessible and curated for community leaders and planners who are already at-capacity and under-resourced.

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Thrive Regional Partnership is proud to announce the creation of its new Resource Hub. Designed with the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and design firm Studio 2263, the Resource Hub will be a public-facing data platform designed to support informed decision-making, development, and cross-sector collaboration across southeast Tennessee, northwest Georgia, and northeast Alabama.

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Thrive’s Resource Hub, made possible through majority funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), will serve as a digital backbone for regional planning and storytelling about community development. 

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The website will combine dynamic dashboards, GIS-powered StoryMaps, and curated datasets that encompass environmental resources, infrastructure and built environment, and cultural heritage. 

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In keeping with Thrive’s collaborative mission, the Resource Hub initiative convenes data and design experts with Thrive’s broad regional network of partners, including local governments, planning agencies, nonprofits, and academic institutions.

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“This collaboration is more than just a technical project. It’s a strategic investment in the region’s future. By building a shared space for data and storytelling, we’re empowering communities to make decisions that are locally-grounded and regionally-connected. We’re honored to work with skilled partners who understand both the power of data and the importance of place.” - Shannon Millsaps, Chief Operating Officer, Thrive Regional Partnership

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The Resource Hub design team expects the creation of the tool to take a year and a half.  Currently, the design team is reviewing and cataloging foundational mapping resources for infrastructure, land use, conservation, and community indicators such as demographics, commuter flows, and socioeconomic data.  The design process involves ongoing feedback loops with local planners, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, and residents across the tri-state to ensure a user-friendly interface.

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A preview of early components of the Regional Resource Hub will be presented at the 2026 Tri-State Summit next October, with a full public launch anticipated in early 2027.

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Once complete, users can visit the Resource Hub website to explore interactive data visualizations, request dataset analysis, and access custom research tools specific to challenges and opportunities right here in the tri-state region. 

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The design team of the Resource Hub website is committed to creating an everyday tool to help communities make the most of economic opportunities while preserving what they love about their home communities. To stay up to date on project progress, subscribe to Thrive Regional Partnership’s monthly newsletter on this website. Anyone interested in joining the community engagement process may contact Thrive.

About ARISE

Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) is a multi-state initiative of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) that aims to drive large-scale, regional economic transformation through collaborative projects.

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ARISE encourages initiatives that go beyond state borders and help the 13 Appalachian states advance ARC’s strategic investment priorities as one, united Appalachia. The multi-state projects supported by this initiative are strengthening Appalachian business and industry, and growing and supporting the development of new opportunities across multiple economic sectors.

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About the Center for Applied Geospatial Data Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

The Center for Applied Geospatial Data Science (CAGDS) provides the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the greater Chattanooga region with leadership, expertise, and a platform for the successful integration of geospatial technologies and spatial thinking into academic instruction and problem solving.

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About the Center for Urban Resilience and Analytics (CURA) at the Georgia Institute of Technology

The Center for Urban Resilience and Analytics (CURA) is Georgia Tech’s hub for research at the intersection of urban resilience, climate adaptation, and spatial data analytics. Formed in 2025 through the strategic integration of the Center for Spatial Planning Analytics and Visualization (CSPAV), the Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development (CQGRD), and the Urban Climate Lab (UCL), CURA brings together decades of expertise to address the most urgent challenges facing cities today.

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CURA's mission is to strengthen cities' ability to adapt and thrive amid environmental, social, and economic stressors—from extreme heat and flooding to housing instability and infrastructure strain. By combining advanced spatial data tools, policy insights, and interdisciplinary research, CURA equips communities with strategies to build resilience and equity into the urban fabric.

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About Studio 2263

Studio 2263 works at the intersection of data science, research and design. User and human-centered design drives accessible communication and extends the impact of positive, mission-driven work. Studio 2263 specializes in building creative data visualization and cartography as well as custom built tools tailored to meet the unique needs of each project and to clarify complex issues and research.

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