CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Friday, June 20, 2025) – Invest Chattanooga is proud to
announce that Matt Bedsole has accepted the role of President and Chief
Executive Officer.
Invest Chattanooga
<https://chattanooga.gov/stay-informed/latest-news/invest-chattanooga-catalyze-affordable-housing-development-20-million>
was launched by the city to help with housing affordability, creating new
pathways for public-private partnerships in mixed-income housing. Over 20
years, it is anticipated that Invest Chattanooga’s $20 million fund will
lead to the development of $400 million worth of mixed-income housing.
Bedsole brings deep experience in structuring complex public-private
partnerships, securing capital from diverse sources and maximizing social
returns through efficient operations. He is an expert at creating
permanently affordable housing that does not rely on traditional federal
subsidies.
“Creating more housing options for every resident is what Invest
Chattanooga is all about,” said Mayor Tim Kelly. “Matt Bedsole is an
inspired builder of bold public-private initiatives. We are thrilled to
have him on board to lead this effort.”
Bedsole most recently helped position Atlanta as a hub for housing impact
investment, repositioning over $100 million in public land for housing and
structuring catalytic projects like the $120 million Midtown Fire Station
redevelopment. As Director of the Housing Innovation Lab in the City of
Atlanta Mayor’s Office, he led a team of housing development and policy
experts. He led the conceptualization, launch and ongoing support of the
Atlanta Urban Development Corporation, the model for Invest Chattanooga,
and secured a $38 million Housing Production Fund to finance new
mixed-income developments.
His work includes experience at HR&A Advisors and APD Urban Planning &
Management, where he consulted at the intersection of housing finance,
public-private partnerships and community resilience across cities like
Detroit, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.
“I’m honored to join the team in Chattanooga and help advance one of the
most innovative local housing efforts in the country,” said Bedsole.
“Invest Chattanooga’s model—co-investing public funds with private and
nonprofit partners to secure permanent affordability and shared
returns—allows us to move quickly to deliver mixed-income housing and
ensure affordability remains part of the city’s long-term growth story.”