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We need stable, good paying jobs and development that prioritizes community safety, local jobs and return on investment for tax payers.
Sign the petition to urge decision makers to hold Urban Story Ventures accountable and to say NO to more Oracle AI Data Centers in Chattanooga.
After receiving multiple tax incentives from the City and Hamilton County, Urban Story Ventures partnered with Oracle to develop 3 separate AI Data Center projects in the downtown.
These data centers are linked to the $157 million dollar Tax Incremental Financing USV secured for "the Bend." In this TIF the Bend agreed to generate jobs and revenue to help pay for things like the Gateway School and affordable housing. But as of March 21st, 2026 “The Bend has yet to produce tax revenue for public housing or a county school planned for the former BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee building at West M.L. King Boulevard and Gateway Avenue. “
USV CEO Jimmy White claims these projects will create hundreds of jobs and grow our local economy.
When pressed, White and partners are unable to produce a workforce development plan for the Jail House studios project that outlines how "hundreds of jobs" will be delivered. Strange, but leaders requested only 35 parking spots in the lease agreement.
White and USV came back to the IDB and Chattanooga City Council to request MORE tax incentives for a $300 million dollar amphitheater project. This ampitheater would compete with the Mackenzie arena, the Caverns and venues in other cities. According to White, this amphitheater would also contain an Oracle AI Data Center.
The Chattanooga Industrial Development Board was frustrated that White had obtained a $47.5 million dollar loan from Hilco Global, a real estate private equity firm. USV did not notify the IDB or City Council of this decision, despite its partnership with the city in the TIF agreement.
Hilco Global has a track record decision makers should be aware of. Recently, a subsidiery of Hilco had to pay $12.5 million to a neighborhood in Chicago after a botched smokestack demolition that sent toxic particles into the surrounding neighborhoods resulting in significant health and safety issues for residents.
Jimmy White and Urban Story Ventures have also recruited the Chattanooga Mountain City Club, whose board members were alarmed to learn that $2 million of their funds was wired to USV in December 2025 without their approval. There is impending litigation and a lawsuit about this $2 million.
Oracle, White's partner in this Data Center project, is donating data centers across the country, installing the hardware & maintaining the AI centers with the goal of rolling out as many as possible, as quickly as possible.
Oracle and STEM partnerships website boasts a modular AI data center can be delivered to your facility in "just a matter of weeks". An Oracle spokesperson told the Times Free Press they started shipping the hardware for the Jail House Studios just 2 days after announcing it and months before the lease agreement was approved by our local government.
WHY are these data centers being installed at no cost to the developer? WHO stands to benefit the most?
In 2025, Oracle entered into a $500 billion dollar joint venture with Open AI and the Trump Administration. Oracle has received over $305 million in tax incentives from the state of Tennessee, promising to create 6,000 jobs, but only delivering 637 before massive layoffs.
On April 1st, Oracle laid off 30,000 workers across the world, citing the need to pay for these modular data centers. Oracle workers who were not paid severance or given their pensions, despite working with Oracle for over 20 years according to TIME magazine.
Oracle has received over $305 million in tax incentives from the state of Tennessee without delivering on jobs promised for Tennessseans. Can Hamilton County afford more tax incentives for this billion dollar company?
We call on decision makers in Chattanooga to ensure that any additional tax incentives going to this project, come with STRONG provisions for our local community and local workers.
Sign the petition today. Urge local decision makers to hold Urban Story Ventures accountable for good paying, stable jobs. Say NO to more Oracle Data Centers in Chattanooga.