Let’s grow the best place in the world to live.
Chattanooga National Park City is looking for 100 bold ideas — big or small — that bring our community together and improve quality of life in our city.
Seeds Sought
Seeds Selected
Seeds Funded
Small ideas.
Big ideas.
All welcome.
A Seed is a place-based, actionable, and repeatable project that requires collaboration. Seeds don't have to start big — but the best ones grow into something the whole city can share.
A Great Name
What do people call this idea? A clear, memorable name helps it spread.
Gardener(s)
What do people call this idea? A clear, memorable name helps it spread.
Soil — Place & Community
What do people call this idea? A clear, memorable name helps it spread.
Water — Funding
What do people call this idea? A clear, memorable name helps it spread.
Sunlight — Community Energy
Who is excited about this? Who will show up, share it, and make it real?
Roots — Existing Connections
What organizations, networks, or efforts does this seed connect to?
Support — Mentorship
Who has done something like this before and can help guide the team?
Expected Harvest — Mentorship
What does success look like by the end of the season? Define the goal.
Real ideas. Real impact.
These are the kinds of collaborative, place-based projects the Seed Drive is built to launch — and grow.
Painted bike corridors and pedestrian routes connecting the Highland Park neighborhood to Hawthorn School — making the journey to school safer and more joyful.
A collaborative community garden with allotments, compost, water storage, and a three sisters spiral — bringing fresh food and neighbors together in East Lake.
Student artists and local creatives transformed 200 transit benches into public art installations, beautifying bus stops across the city while honoring Chattanooga's natural environment.
What's the next Aquarium — or Stadium-sized Seed?
Some of Chattanooga's greatest civic achievements started as a single bold idea. The Seed Drive isn't just for small projects. If you have a transformational vision, bring it — we'll help you build momentum, find partners, and track its growth until it's ready to plant.
Your ideas,
your city.
Seeds come from Chattanooga residents, organizations, and neighborhoods — and the community plays a central role in shaping which ideas move forward.
All Seeds are submitted through this page and reviewed by the NPC Leadership Council. Seeds are assessed for alignment with NPC's charter commitments, feasibility, collaboration potential, and nonprofit compliance.
The Council selects up to 20 Seeds to move forward. These Seeds are featured at the Seed Expo and given dedicated mentorship, nonprofit connections, and support to sharpen their pitch.
Up to 10 Seeds receive funding awards ranging from $250 to $10,000. Priority is given to Seeds with strong community collaboration that can be planted and harvested within 5 months.
What makes a strong Seed?
Mark your calendar.
Four community events will guide ideas from spark to pitch. Show up at any stage — the more you engage, the stronger your Seed becomes.
Public kickoff and open idea sharing. Bring any idea — no matter how small or large. Early teams begin to form around shared interests.
So, you’ve decided you want to join the National Park City Family. You won’t be alone. We’re here to support you and there’s a community of people working together with the same ambition in other urban areas who want to collaborate with you too.
Table-style expo where Seeds are presented and refined. Practice your pitch, gather final feedback, and lock in collaborators.
3-minute pitches from 20–30 Seeds in front of the community. Funding and support is awarded to the strongest Seeds.
Join us at GreenWay Farms to celebrate the funded Seeds and kick off the growing season together. Part of Chattanooga's Earth Week celebrations.
Everyone has a role
