2025 | Knoxville, TN
More than 60 business, civic, and community leaders from West Alabama traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee, this week as part of The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama’s 2025 Benchmarking Trip presented by The University of Alabama.
This annual trip, designed to inspire innovation and foster collaboration, offered participants a firsthand look at how Knoxville—a city consistently ranked among the nation’s top destinations for young professionals—is addressing challenges and driving progress in key areas like public safety, workforce development, community growth, and quality of life.
Attendees explored a wide range of topics throughout the trip, including the city’s innovation ecosystem, public-private partnerships, and talent retention strategies.
Throughout the three-day experience, participants had opportunities to connect with Knoxville stakeholders, engage in facilitated discussions, and begin conversations on how to translate lessons learned into actionable strategies for Tuscaloosa, Northport and the greater West Alabama region.
