As AI reshapes the American economy, leaders across the heartland are working to ensure their communities are prepared not only to meet the AI moment but to thrive in it. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, state, local and regional leaders met this November to discuss how the city and the state of Tennessee are embracing AI and how best to prepare the public for that change.

The two-day gathering was convened by think-and-do-tank Heartland Forward and nonprofit EqualAI alongside Mayor Tim Kelly of Chattanooga to examine the relationship between AI, the future of learning and its integration into education and the workforce more broadly. The event featured discussions focused on both the challenges and the opportunities AI presents for teaching, professional development, safety protocols and the future of work.

This convening is part of Heartland Forward’s expanding role in shaping the heartland’s AI preparedness. Over the past year, the organization has led a multi-city salon dinner series across Nashville, Fargo, Tulsa, Montgomery and Baton Rouge —small, curated gatherings where local leaders from business, education, public service, health care and other sectors exchange perspectives on how AI is transforming their communities. Designed to surface community-level insight, these dinners help Heartland Forward take the pulse of the region and elevate the priorities, anxieties and opportunities voiced by heartlanders themselves.

“In Chattanooga, the spirit of deep listening and intentional conversation shaped every part of the program. Chattanooga has earned a national reputation as a city that doesn’t wait for things to happen—they make them happen. It’s a standard the rest of the heartland can look to as AI accelerates. As a returning Heartland Forward Secret Sauce community, it’s a privilege to be on the ground and to share Chattanooga’s success stories across the heartland and the country.”

— Angie Cooper, President, Heartland Forward

The panel discussions featured EqualAI President and CEO Miriam Vogel, Mayor Kelly, Chattanooga Chief Information Officer Jerele Neeld and Stemuli Founder and CEO Taylor Shead. Together, they underscored a central theme: with intentional leadership and collaboration, the heartland can emerge as a national model for preparing students, workers and communities for an AI-powered future.

“What’s on my mind is how to capture the opportunity,” said Neeld, reflecting on Chattanooga’s work to integrate AI into city services. He described the city’s quantum and AI initiatives as economic “flywheels” strengthening the region’s innovation ecosystem.

Chattanooga served as a natural host for the conversation. The city became the first in the nation to offer municipally owned, city-wide gigabit internet service—a foundation that helped launch the Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative in 2023 and position the city as a hub for next-generation technology. The gathering made clear that this kind of connectivity is the bedrock of a prosperous AI future.

“Fast, cheap, pervasive internet makes all of this possible,” said Mayor Kelly. He emphasized that without reliable high-speed access, students and workers cannot benefit from AI tools—echoing recent Heartland Forward polling showing that only 10% of heartland students say their teachers have helped prepare them to use AI in future jobs, and less than 1% of workers feel highly proficient with AI tools.

Kelly also spoke to the stakes of the moment: “You can be the windshield or you can be the bug—AI really has the power to transform our communities.” He argued that if done right, AI can “flatten the opportunity curve,” especially for rural areas that stand to gain from personalized learning, remote work and new tech-enabled industries.

Panelists also explored how AI might reshape classroom instruction. Vogel emphasized the importance of trust and effective governance, noting that good AI governance often mirrors good governance more broadly and that leaders should “listen first” to communities piloting these tools on the ground. 

Shead highlighted the urgency of engaging students where they are: “AI is accelerating everything. If we want students to be ready for the future of work, we have to stop just talking about AI and let them use it in environments where they can safely practice the skills the future of work will demand.” 

Across discussions, leaders returned to the same point: preparing educators is just as critical as preparing students. The core challenge ahead is how to “train the trainers” so teachers and workforce development leaders feel equipped, supported and confident bringing AI into classrooms and the workplace.

The convening closed with a call for clarity and collaboration. “We either use AI or AI can use us,” Mayor Kelly said, underscoring the importance of proactive leadership as AI accelerates.

Chattanooga’s example—anchored by world-class connectivity, a history of innovation and a commitment to inclusive growth—demonstrates what’s possible when heartland communities lead with intention. Through convenings like the salon dinner series and gatherings like this one, Heartland Forward and leaders across the region are ensuring the heartland isn’t just reacting to technological change but defining its future.To learn more about Heartland Forward’s continued AI initiatives to support state and local communities click here.