downtown. A nonprofit has been formed with the goal of creating a trail that would run from the heart of Dayton out to that trailhead, passing along or near the 60-acre recreation development. This would effectively connect the valley floor to the plateau crown by way of walkable, bikeable paths, giving residents and visitors alike a unique way to experience the region’s topography. The University of Tennessee has been a significant partner in these efforts, providing both vision and support in weaving together the river, the city, and the surrounding countryside. For Dayton, that partnership reinforces the idea that the town is not operating in isolation but is part of a larger, connected landscape. WORKFORCE PIPELINES AND A LIFESTYLE STRATEGY Across North America, communities are grappling with workforce shortages and shifting employment expectations. Dayton is no exception, but it has chosen a distinctly collaborative approach to the problem. While the University of Tennessee serves as a regional academic anchor, it is the new Chattanooga State campus—a Tennessee College of Applied Technology facility—that is most directly tied to the city’s workforce strategy. “Their main goal is to work closely with our industries in the industrial park to help transition students into the workforce,” explains Vice Mayor Caleb Yawn. 212 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01
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