Chattanooga, TN – The City of Chattanooga is urging small, local, and traditionally disadvantaged businesses to register as city suppliers in an effort to increase local participation in government contracts. The initiative aims to ensure that local vendors are considered when the city purchases goods and services.
As part of this effort, the city is encouraging vendors to sign up through the Supplier Portal, an online platform designed to connect businesses with upcoming bidding opportunities. By registering, vendors gain access to notifications about bids and resources to help them navigate the procurement process.
Mayor Tim Kelly emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses, stating that Chattanooga often receives no local bids when seeking contractors, forcing the city to outsource taxpayer dollars.
“I was motivated to run for mayor by the concept of Localism—the idea that cities can do more to improve lives than ever before by looking locally for solutions to our biggest problems,” Kelly said.
“When city government asks for bids on contracts to provide goods and services, we often get zero local bids, forcing us to send taxpayer dollars to companies outside our community. I encourage all local businesses to become registered vendors in the City of Chattanooga’s supplier portal.”
Businesses interested in participating in the City Supplier Program can visit the city’s official website to register and learn more about upcoming opportunities. City officials have emphasized their commitment to making the procurement process transparent and accessible to all businesses within the community.