Current and Past Projects
The mission of the Ochs Center is to conduct independent data analysis and policy research to improve the quality of life in the Chattanooga region. The Ochs Center’s State of Chattanooga Region Report serves as a platform for other research and analysis that is tailored to the needs of individual organizations.
Over the last four years, research has included:
- A comprehensive review of preparation, recruitment, hiring of teachers in the Hamilton County Department of Education based on survey research, analysis of administrative data, interviews and roundtables and best practices review for two local foundations.
- Detailed research papers on the environment, community development, arts and culture and education for a local foundation.
- Baseline analysis of survey data and administrative data that helped set priorities for the county’s READ 20 program.
- A first-ever analysis of the economic impact of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport
- A comprehensive analysis of workforce needs based on federal labor data and employer interviews for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.
- Survey research including telephone, mail and door-to-door data collection for numerous community based organizations.
- Program evaluation and assessment for federal and local grant funded programs and organizations.
- Assessment of racial disparities in the region for the City’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.
The Ochs Center has also worked to bring national funding to address important issues in the region
- Funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to study the effect of changes in the TennCare program on clients and providers.
- Funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to assess current efforts to increase early grade success in Hamilton County.
- Funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to conduct research on the role of citizens in local government performance measurement and to create a practitioners network to increase access to local government and accountability.
While most of the Ochs Center’s work (other than the State of Chattanooga Region Report) is client driven, it has identified select issues where it has sought to become a catalyst for change:
- The Ochs Center urged the City of Chattanooga to challenge Census estimates that showed no or slow growth in the city’s population. The challenge resulted in population estimates showing that Chattanooga’s population has grown by more than eight percent since 2000.
- The Ochs Center released the first-ever analysis of fiscal impacts of land use and development policies in Hamilton County.
