Business Images Nashville, TN: 2012 by Journal Communications

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nashville, tennessee

Success Breeds Success

Entrepreneur Center helps many start-up companies

Living In Style

Region has a multitude of options to call home

We Are Music City Music scene is diverse and welcoming

Sponsored by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce | 2012

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Workstyle We Are Music City

Nashville’s music scene is diverse and welcoming

Success Breeds Success

Entrepreneur Center helps many start-up companies

Broad Base of Support

Booming immigrant community spurs Nashville’s economic, cultural diversity

Insight

Overview

Almanac

Business Climate

Biz Briefs

Economic Profile

Energy/Technology

Health

Education

Livability

Community Profile

Through the Lens

On the Cover View of downtown Nashville from the southeast Photo by Antony Boshier

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Digital Edition Success Breeds Success Nashville’s Entrepreneur Center links successful business practices to start-ups Story by Betsy Williams Photography by Jeffrey S. Otto

ho knows better than a fellow entrepreneur what tools another entrepreneur needs to be successful? Nashville’s Entrepreneur Center, created from a Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce initiative, is banking on that premise, with its goal of making Nashville the No. 1 place to start a business. Staffed with, invested in and mentored by people who have turned back-of-napkin ideas into flourishing businesses, the center has provided the tools to launch almost two dozen entrepreneurial start-ups during its first year of staffed operation, seeing more than $5 million in investment.

MISSION: CREATE JOBS “Our long-term mission for our program is to create jobs and add to the tax base of Nashville by supporting innovation and entrepreneurship,” says Clay Jackson, the center’s director of marketing and communications. “We look forward to seeing how those job numbers and figures created during our first year in operation play out over the coming years.” The center provides an impressive menu of services, from online tools (including an Entrepreneur Resource Directory), hands-on mentoring and comprehensive workshops to fully

equipped office space for qualifying start-ups, and access to venture capitalists and angel investors. STRATASAN HAS SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH For Jason Moore, co-founder of health-care data information company Stratasan, the Entrepreneur Center was invaluable in the successful launch of his business in September 2010, when he became the center’s first E-office tenant. “It has been incredible,” Moore says, admitting that initially he was a little skeptical of the value the center might provide his start-up. That skepticism has changed to enthusiastic support. “They hammer on you about telling your story, helping you create your pro forma, developing financial modeling, creating a new market or segmenting into an existing one,” he says. “It makes you understand your business much better than when you came in. Getting involved with the Entrepreneur Center is a great way to get involved and get noticed.” With three full-time staff members, led by President and CEO Michael Burcham, the center relies heavily on volunteers, and they’ve lined up some heavy hitters in the business world to serve as advisors, mentors and investors. They have also come up with some big ideas of their own for the center.

The center takes advantage of partnerships with other local entrepreneurial services, including Jumpstart Foundry, Bullpen Ventures, Angel Capital Group and Nashville Capital Network, organizations that promote entrepreneurial and economic growth by being the hub for early-stage capital formation in Middle Tennessee. State programs such as TNInvestcos, where funds are invested through local venture capital firms as an entrepreneurial investment opportunity, have shown “phenomenal support of Nashville’s start-up companies and the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Jackson says. Those partnerships are paying off, says Stratasan’s Moore. “Nashville is bringing a lot of things together that other places aren’t, and the Entrepreneur Center is another milestone in making Nashville a more entrepreneur-friendly place.”

Members of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center at a presentation

ENTREPRENEUR CENTER EXPANSION “Our immediate goal is moving our center into the Nashville Trolley Barn #1 at Rolling Mill Hill, which will quadruple our space,” Jackson says. The new space will allow the center to incubate upwards of 60 companies and expand its service offerings.

NASHvILLE

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Nash v ille , T e n n e ss e e 201 2 Edition , volum e 10

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Nas h v ill e

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Entrepreneur Center helps many start-up companies

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Region has a multitude of options to call home

Lifestyle Find out what it’s like to live here and what makes the community such a special place to be.

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Business Images Nashville is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.

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livability.com/Nashville/tn li v abili t y . c o m / Nas h v ill e / t n

• Located in the scenic countryside of Middle Tennessee • Located within 500 miles of two-thirds of our nation’s population • Located at the intersection of three major interstates in Nashville

Location, Location, Location

Call Tom Tucker – City of Goodlettsville • (615) 851-2204 • www.cityofgoodlettsville.org

Overview

Nashville Region Ranks Well Creativity, smarts, accessibility and affordability among top 10 reasons to relocate Nashville ranks well among the largest 200 metro areas in the world for economic vitality, according to a recent study by The Brookings Institute. The region has experienced tremendous growth in the past decade, attracting top-notch talent and world-class companies. Here are just 10 of many reasons why:

1. Skills & Smarts. Along with

a skilled workforce for advanced manufacturing and distribution industries, the Nashville region is known as the Athens of the South for its presence of nearly two dozen higher education institutions.

2. Ready Real Estate. Besides many high-quality available buildings and land, construction is on the rise. The commercial property market is strong, while diversity of housing options appeals to all types of residents.

and regulations. Highly competitive transportation costs make this a top spot for manufacturing operations. For residents, Nashville ranks No. 3 on Kiplinger’s 2011 Top 10 Best Value Cities list.

9. Friendly Faces. Economic growth

7. Creative Energy. Nashville

10. Topography & Climate. The Nashville region has a mild climate, verdant landscapes and rolling hills, perfect factors for enjoying expanding parks and greenways, thriving youth leagues, and beautiful state, county and municipal parks.

overflows with arts even beyond its Music City title. The Western States Arts Federation ranked Nashville No. 4 in the U.S. for creative vitality.

8. Epic Entertainment. Travel +

Leisure named Nashville No. 1 for its live music scene, No. 8 for nightlife and No. 16 for food, and gave nods to the city’s burgeoning brewery scene and friendly locals. Meanwhile, Sporting News ranked the city on its 2011 Best Sports Cities list.

For more information, contact: Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce 211 Commerce St., #100 Nashville, TN 37201 (615) 743-3000 www.nashvillechamber.com

431

Orlinda

ROBERTSON

374

3. Accessibility. The region is

located within 650 miles of 150 million people and has excellent air, rail and highway access for both residents and businesses.

has not at all compromised the welcoming nature of Middle Tennessee residents, with Nashville making several “friendliest cities” lists over the past decade.

Clarksville

Springfield

41A

MONTGOMERY

5. Cutting-Edge Health Care.

Health care is the region’s largest industry and continues to grow. No one benefits more than residents, who enjoy proximity and access to leading-edge services provided at state-of-the-art facilities.

6. Affordability. Tennessee is No. 1 on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2012 ranking for low business taxes

White House

Greenbrier

CHEATHAM

31E

Gallatin 65

Hendersonville

Ashland City

Mt. Juliet

Nashville

Charlotte

DICKSON

Lebanon

70 40

DAVIDSON

Dickson 46

SUMNER

109

31W 41

Slayden

Coopertown

4. Cultural Inclusiveness. The

region is home to many international companies and residents, along with dozens of organizations supporting these diverse cultures. Forbes named Nashville No. 3 in the U.S. for minority entrepreneurs.

Portland 31W

Burns

Forest Hills 40

70 231

Oak Hill 24

840

La Vergne

431

Watertown

WILSON

31 96

Franklin

RUTHERFORD

WILLIAMSON

Murfreesboro

840

Spring Hill

MAURY

431

70S

Eagleville 231

396 412 43

Columbia

Mount Pleasant

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Almanac montgomery county

Sunny Days Ahead

Davidson county

Come Here, Conventioneers By mid 2013, Davidson County will welcome the opening of Music City Center (rendering shown here), a 1.2 million-square-foot convention building located in downtown Nashville adjacent to Bridgestone Arena and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (which also is undergoing a 200,000-square-foot expansion). Nashville-based Tuck-Hinton Architects, designers behind the hall of fame, Nashville Public Square, rehabilitation of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and many other signature Music City structures, have partnered with Moody-Nolan Architects and Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates of Atlanta on the $585 million project. The center will be large enough to accommodate 75 percent of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s convention and visitor market. Also under construction downtown is a $250 million Omni Nashville Hotel, scheduled to open in 2013 adjacent to Music City Center.

Michigan-based Hemlock Semiconductor Group announced plans in 2011 to construct a $1.2 billion polysilicon production plant in Montgomery County. Polysilicon is a key raw material used to manufacture solar cells and semiconductor devices used in the fast-growing solar industry. Construction of the new Tennessee site began in early 2012 at Commerce Park in Clarksville, and the facility is expected to employ more than 500 people when it opens in 2013. Hemlock officials say the plant will have the capacity to annually manufacture 10,000 metric tons of polysilicon, with the ability to eventually expand production up to 21,000 metric tons.

robertson county

Home of the Range Electrolux Major Appliances North America announced in October 2011 that it is expanding its Robertson County manufacturing facility. A $5 million investment will result in the creation of 75 new jobs at the Springfield site, which has produced Electrolux and Frigidaire gas and electric freestanding oven ranges since 1974. The expansion, scheduled to be completed in late 2012 or early 2013, will feature upgrades to the existing Springfield facility, as well as a new three-story, 21,000-square-foot addition that will be equipped with world-class laboratories and developmental facilities. Electrolux currently has 2,800 employees, and the 75 new positions will be in marketing, research and development.

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rutherford county

Nissan 30 Years Later Nissan North America produced its first vehicle in Rutherford County in 1983, and today the manufacturing plant in Smyrna employs 6,000 workers who produce 500,000 vehicles annually. Manufacturing now includes the Nissan Leaf electric car (shown here), which the Smyrna plant began producing in 2012. “Nissan has provided the residents of our community with great jobs for 30 years. It is our largest employer and continues to invest in the community,” says Holly Sears, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce vice president of economic development. “In addition, the spin-off from Nissan is significant. Their presence has facilitated many suppliers.”

Cheatham county

Sustainable Development Cheatham County and Robertson County are co-developing a regional business-industrial park on a 1,100-acre land tract that straddles the two counties' border. The facility tentatively will be called Red River Preserve and will be located conveniently off Interstate 24. Officials hope the park ultimately will attract companies from throughout Middle Tennessee, including Nashville, which is only a short drive away. “A big part of the planning is to make it one of the most environmentally sustainable parks on the market,” says James Fenton, Cheatham County director of economic and community development. “We will use International Council of Sustainability guidelines for all construction.”

williamson county

Main Office Magnet Williamson County received plenty of recognition in 2007 when Nissan relocated its North American headquarters from Los Angeles to Franklin. But Nissan is just one of many companies that have chosen to set up corporate headquarters in Williamson County over the past 10 years. Others include American Retirement Corp., Century II, Comdata, Community Health Systems, Goldleaf Financial Solutions, Healthways (shown here), Progeny Marketing Innovations and Telco Solutions III. Reasons for choosing Williamson County are many, including proximity to Nashville and Nashville International Airport, easy access to interstates, quality of life, good schools and a low crime rate.

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dickson county

Hello, State Route 840 In December 2012, Dickson County will welcome the opening of a final 12-mile section of State Route 840. The Murfreesboro-to-Dickson highway was initiated in 1986 and currently has 66 miles open to traffic, but construction of the final 12-mile segment connecting to Dickson County has been delayed for various reasons over the years. “The opening will provide an economic boost, plus several of our industries that ship products south can utilize 840 to I-65 South, instead of going all the way into Nashville and fighting traffic to get onto 65 South,” says David Hamilton, Dickson County Chamber of Commerce president. “Plus 840 will be a good connector from Dickson to I-24, heading toward Chattanooga.”

sumner county

Little Corporate America Sumner County is becoming a little corporate America, with a number of companies establishing their headquarters there. Gallatin-based Samick Music Corporation is producing and warehousing pianos and guitars, and Gallatin-based ServPro specializes in damage restoration services such as mold mitigation and water removal. Aladdin Temp-Rite in Hendersonville is a company involved with meal delivery systems, and Shoals Technologies in Portland (shown here) manufactures products and system solutions for the nation’s alternative energy industry.

wilson county

Lebanon Welcomes Amazon Amazon.com made news in July 2011 by announcing plans to open a 500,000-square-foot distribution center in Wilson County. The new facility opened in Lebanon in fall 2011, joining Amazon’s two other Tennessee warehousing facilities in Chattanooga and Cleveland. The Fortune 500 company, based in Seattle, has been doing business on the Internet since 1995, selling a variety of merchandise at reasonable prices. Officials say the opening of the Lebanon plant has created hundreds of full-time jobs, along with numerous seasonal employment opportunities.

maury county

Equinox in 2012 General Motors Corporation announced in November 2011 that it will begin manufacturing a Chevrolet Equinox in the second half of 2012 at its idled Maury County assembly plant near Spring Hill. A $61 million investment to build the midsize SUV will create nearly 700 jobs, and GM also announced it will then invest another $183 million to manufacture an unspecified midsize vehicle in 2015. The second vehicle is expected to create another 1,200 jobs. Besides the vehicles, the Maury County facility already produces a number of individual car parts that include four-cylinder engines designed for many GM-brand vehicles.

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Business Climate

Prosperity for 10 Counties Chamber introduces Partnership 2020 initiative Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Antony Boshier

ike many of the Grammywinning songs penned and recorded here, there is much more to the Nashville area story than its Music City moniker. Home to 1,755,446 people, including the major population centers of Murfreesboro, Clarksville, Franklin, Gallatin and La Vergne, the 10-county region thrives with creativity and innovation across diverse business sectors.

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Affordability and accessibility, strong industrial and commercial market, and a wealth of talent and quality of life combine to make the region a magnet for corporate headquarters, particularly in fastgrowing health and technology sectors. The Nashville area is already a health care hotbed, with an industry that comprises 250 companies and a $30 billion local economic benefit.

A skilled workforce, good infrastructure and proximity to major markets have made the area a hub for supply chain and logistics firms, plus high-tech manufacturers, distributors and e-commerce. Staple industries like advanced manufacturing continue to thrive, thanks to skilled labor and low operation costs. And Nashvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ever-evolving music heritage has

Hotspot for Headquarters If you’re playing a Gibson guitar, eating GooGoo Clusters or cruising around town on Bridgestone tires, you can probably thank Nashville. These three companies and many more are headquartered here in the Nashville area, including Nissan North America, Mars Petcare, Gaylord Entertainment, Dollar

created a $6 billion music industry populated by an eclectic mix of global corporations, nonprofits, small businesses, artists and musicians focused on all facets and genres of music. Best Place for Business, Careers The Nashville area has emerged stronger than ever in the wake of the recession, in 2011 ranking 11th in the nation for job creation and adding 16,300 jobs in sectors ranging from health care to manufacturing to financial services. Forbes recently named Nashville the sixth best U.S. city for business and careers, and Kiplinger recognized it on a list of 11 U.S. comeback cities. Encouraging the region’s growth into one of the most robust economies in the U.S. is the goal of Partnership 2020 – a Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce economic development initiative to ensure the 10-county region remains competitive. Partnership 2020 focuses on four strategies for future economic success, with five job sectors targeted for growth. “One of the four strategies is job creation – nothing in America is more important today than adding jobs and growing prosperity,” says Janet Miller, chief economic development officer with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. “That means recruiting companies that are relocating, as well as keeping and growing our existing companies, and starting entrepreneurial ventures and innovation companies.”

General, Olhausen Billiard Manufacturing, Oreck Corporation, Tractor Supply Co., Brookdale Senior Living, Healthways, HCA, LifePoint Hospitals, Asurion, Community Health Systems, Louisiana-Pacific, Cracker Barrel, Logan’s Roadhouse, J. Alexander’s and O’Charley’s.

Livability Factor Miller says another strategy is to work with area universities – most notably Vanderbilt – on fundraising for research projects that can lead to the formation of new companies. “Also, we want to make sure that Nashville itself remains attractive because today’s current generation often chooses a city to live in first before they choose their job,” she says. “Nashville needs to keep its strong livability factor in place, which includes having pro sports teams, a great airport, a vibrant entertainment scene and so forth.” Miller adds that the chamber is stressing a regionalism effort, with Nashville being the main city of a 10-county economic engine that is home to millions. “As for what jobs we want to attract, we can’t bring every job in the world to Nashville, so we are concentrating on what we’re already good at,” she says. “We want to attract more corporate headquarters that bring highpaying jobs, decision makers and philanthropy to our area, plus we would like to bring more health care-related companies.” Musically Inclined Miller says Partnership 2020 will also target advanced manufacturing industries to move here, plus logistics and supply chain distribution companies since Nashville has an ideal geographic location and an excellent highway system in place. “Meanwhile, only three or four cities in the country can actively promote themselves as true music centers, so Nashville is going to promote itself as an entertainment

capital even more than it ever has,” she says. “Partnership 2020 has a budget of about $5 million a year, and 90 percent of the money will be paid by private industry that wants to invest in the future growth of the local economy. Prosperity for 10 counties – that is what Partnership 2020 is all about.”

by the numbers

75% of U.S. markets are within a day’s drive of Nashville

12 Fortune 1000 companies with corporate headquarters in the Nashville area

$30B Annual local economic impact of Nashville’s health care industry

$6.38B Annual local economic impact of Nashville’s entertainment industry

1,500 Number of manufacturing facilities in the Nashville area

1,044 Number of technology positions open in Middle Tennessee in 4Q2011

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We are Music City Nashvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music scene is diverse and welcoming Story by Lance Conzett

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t’s 8 p.m. on a Saturday in downtown Nashville. Cowboyhat-wearing tourists are streaming in and out of the honky-tonks that dot lower Broadway. One couple stops to take a picture with the life-sized Elvis Presley statue that permanently stands guard outside Legends Corner, while others drift toward Printer’s Alley. This may be the image that most people conjure up when they consider what it means to spend a night in Music City, but that’s not the whole story. Certainly, the image of country bands belting out the hits for packed crowds in Tootsie’s and Robert’s is an integral piece of Nashville’s history as a music town. But if you widen out just slightly, you might find a hip-hop duo shooting a music video in a warehouse turned art gallery, or, even farther, the city’s most celebrated local rock band playing a sold-out record release concert at Mercy Lounge. There’s a reason why Nashville isn’t called “Country Music City.” From the tiniest practice space to the biggest record label (and every publishing house and open mic in between), Nashville is more than a music town – it’s a diverse, selfsustaining music community for fans and artists alike.

je f f a d k i n s

Live Music Nashville’s music scene has raked in accolades from major publications like Travel + Leisure, Nylon, SPIN and Rolling Stone, which declared it the best scene in the U.S. in its 2011 “Best of Rock” issue. Home to more than 100

CMA Music Festival li v abili t y . c o m / Nas h v ill e / t n

u.s. & canadian cities with the most Music Industry establishments 11.20

Nashville

3.43

Los Angeles

3.13

Montreal

2.38

Toronto

2.23

Vancouver

2.20

New York

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Each music note represents the number of music industry establishments, including record labels, distributors, recording studios and music publishers per 100,000 residents. Source: Martin Prosperity Institute analysis of data from statistics Canada and U.S. Census Bureau

music venues, there’s always live music to see in Nashville, whether it’s bluegrass at Station Inn, punk rock at The End or electronica at Mai. Some of the city’s most popular music venues include Exit/In, The Basement, Cannery Ballroom, 12th & Porter, Bluebird Café and the Ryman Auditorium, country music’s “mother church.” Music Tourism Big-name attractions keep those music venues busy. The annual CMA Music Festival regularly draws upwards of 60,000 country music fans to downtown Nashville for a weekend of celebrity meetand-greets and concerts, while landmarks like the Grand Ole Opry, Musicians Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame offer year-round entertainment for

You Know You Are in Music City When … • Everyone you know has a second job (besides songwriting, of course) • Stopped in traffic, you look around and see other drivers singing, playing air guitar, dashboard drums ... and sometimes, real harmonicas

music fans. Nashville also plays host to other events like the locally grown indie rock festival Soundland, the Americana Music Festival and the National Folk Festival. The Business Nashville’s vested interest in maintaining its musical identity led to the founding of the Nashville Music Council, a joint partnership between the mayor’s office, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau. The council’s goal is to develop the city’s music economy by enhancing education programs and supporting music professionals in the community. Currently, Nashville already

dwarfs rivals like Los Angeles in highest concentration of music industry, according to an article by Richard Florida in the Atlantic. In total, Nashville boasts more than 80 record labels, 130 publishers and 180 recording studios. Between the health-care industry – the city’s largest employer – and music innovators, Nashville’s creative class is deeply embedded in the local economy. It’s a distinction mirrored by colleges like Belmont University, where music business and nursing are the school’s most popular majors. Then there are the traditional support jobs that come with the industry, as well. For example, Viacom, parent company of MTV and Nashville-based Country Music

• A walk through your neighborhood often includes a few acoustic performances from porches and balconies • You’ve collected just as many demos as you have business cards • The owner of your favorite local shop is also the frontman of one of your favorite local bands

J e f f re y S . OTTO

photo courtesy of Ne x t BIG Nashville

An t o n y B o s h i er

• You recognize some of the other soccer moms and dads from music awards shows on TV

• Tour buses are a common sight in the parking lot of your local grocery store, Target or Walmart.

Television, announced in late 2011 its intention to open a new accounting and finance office in the Cool Springs area of Franklin, creating more than 100 new jobs. With Blood, Sweat and Soul But for members of the industry, numbers alone don’t account for why Nashville is special. “What you see from the outside is not what you actually get in Nashville, and to me, that is what makes the music scene here so special,” says Katie Studley, director of new media at Thirty Tigers. “Nashville’s local music scene may not always straddle the cutting edge, but we do what we do with blood, sweat and soul – and we can’t help it.”

Clockwise from top right: Statue of pioneering music producer Owen Bradley on Music Row; Vince Gill at the International Bluegrass Music Festival; Wavves performs at Next BIG Nashville; Capitol Nashville hosts its fourth annual block party on Demonbreun Street.

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Record Comeback Pop quiz, readers! What music format was the fastest growing in 2010? It wasn’t CDs or MP3s. It definitely wasn’t cassettes. Give up? Old-fashioned vinyl records sold 2.8 million units that year, a figure that surged to 3.9 million in 2011, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Nashville is well-placed in the record resurgence. United Record Pressing is one of only four remaining vinyl pressing plants in the nation. Founded in 1949, URP presses around 10,000 records per day for artists as small as a local band pressing a single and as big as the latest album by Taylor Swift. Once the records are pressed and packaged, they’re sold in independent record stores around the world. In Nashville, the perennial favorite is Grimey’s New and Preloved Music, an independent shop started in 1999. Not just a record store, Grimey’s is an ardent supporter of the local music scene, regularly offering in-store concerts and listening parties with established and upcoming acts. “Everything that made records amazing to teenagers in the ’70s is still in there. The magic is still in there,” says Doyle Davis, co-owner of Grimey’s. “When you detach music from the tangible thing, I think it loses something.” Another destination for music lovers is Third Man Records, the combination record store, music venue, studio and office owned by Jack White, singer/guitarist for The White Stripes and Nashville transplant. The store is vinyl exclusive and regularly offers special editions to diehard fans. Other record shops in town include The Groove, Ernest Tubb Record Shop, Lawrence Record Shop, Phonoluxe and The Great Escape. – Lance Conzett

p h o t o c o u r t e s y o f J ay M i l l a r

Nashville Well Placed in the Resurgence of Vinyl

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Success Breeds Success Nashville’s Entrepreneur Center links successful business practices to start-ups Story by Betsy Williams Photography by Jeffrey S. Otto

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Mission: Create Jobs “Our long-term mission for our program is to create jobs and add to the tax base of Nashville by supporting innovation and entrepreneurship,” says Clay Jackson, the center’s director of marketing and communications. “We look forward to seeing how those job numbers and figures created during our first year in operation play out over the coming years.” The center provides an impressive menu of services, from online tools (including an Entrepreneur Resource Directory), hands-on mentoring and comprehensive workshops to fully

equipped office space for qualifying start-ups, and access to venture capitalists and angel investors. Stratasan has Successful Launch For Jason Moore, co-founder of health-care data information company Stratasan, the Entrepreneur Center was invaluable in the successful launch of his business in September 2010, when he became the center’s first E-office tenant. “It has been incredible,” Moore says, admitting that initially he was a little skeptical of the value the center might provide his start-up. That skepticism has changed to enthusiastic support. “They hammer on you about telling your story, helping you create your pro forma, developing financial modeling, creating a new market or segmenting into an existing one,” he says. “It makes you understand your business much better than when you came in. Getting involved with the Entrepreneur Center is a great way to get involved and get noticed.” With three full-time staff members, led by President and CEO Michael Burcham, the center relies heavily on volunteers, and they’ve lined up some heavy hitters in the business world to serve as advisors, mentors and investors. They have also come up with some big ideas of their own for the center. Entrepreneur Center Expansion “Our immediate goal is moving our center into the Nashville Trolley Barn #1 at Rolling Mill Hill, which will quadruple our space,” Jackson says. The new space will allow the center to incubate upwards of 60 companies and expand its service offerings.

Members of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center at a presentation

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Broad Base of Support Booming immigrant community spurs Nashville’s economic, cultural diversity Story by Joe Morris

J e f f re y S . OTTO

ashville has always been a relocation favorite for businesses and individuals throughout the United States, thanks to everything from its climate and employment opportunities down to good oldfashioned Southern charm. These days, those same factors still bring people here, but now they’re coming from around the globe. The influx of international newcomers has had many benefits for Middle Tennessee. Skilled workers in a variety of industry sectors have also brought with them new cultures and perspectives for the region. And because Nashville has rolled out the red carpet so successfully, it’s posting some stratospheric numbers in the national media when it comes to cities on the move.

In 2011, Forbes magazine ranked Music City third on its list of 52 U.S. metro areas with populations of more than a million that are likely to grow and prosper in the coming decade. The magazine cited low housing prices and a pro-business environment for its accolades, but also noted that Nashville’s ethnic population, particularly Latinos and Asians, has doubled in size over the past 10 years. Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Nashville Booms Forbes noted that Nashville’s immigrant population rose 83 percent, to 107,000, between 2000 and 2008, the fastest increase among the largest cities in the U.S. During that time, the minority population grew from accounting

The annual Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival at Centennial Park li v abili t y . c o m / Nas h v ill e / t n

Traditional Japanese decorations, including this miniature Japanese flag, welcome visitors to the Consulate-General of Japan office in Nashville. p h o t o b y J e f f A d k i n s

for 20 percent to 44 percent of Nashville’s overall growth. And while many of these new residents came here in search of jobs, several of them also have launched their own companies. In the Forbes ranking, Nashville was sixth in self-employment among Asians and fourth among Hispanics. Many business-related organizations have come online to further boost these entrepreneurs. Conexión Américas, which opened in 2002, provides a wide variety of services for both businesses and individuals in order to help them assimilate into the Nashville community successfully, both personally and professionally. Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival Expands Perhaps nowhere is Nashville’s ethnic vibrancy showcased better

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than at the annual Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival, held each fall at Centennial Park. What began as a small-scale event at Scarritt-Bennett 18 years ago to highlight the evolving diversity within the community is now an event with approximately 40,000 people attending. “This year we’re doing marketing in 12 languages, and there will be more than 30 cultures represented,” says Cindy Politte, who handles marketing, promotion and sponsorship development for the festival, and also owns Red Cap Communications, a nonprofit marketing and development firm. Politte credits the rapid growth of immigrant populations for much of the festival’s expansion, but also points out that the existing community has been

accepting of its new neighbors, and in turn, has helped the event succeed as well. “Nashville has become rather exotic and cosmopolitan,” she says. “We have one of the largest Kurdish populations in the world here, a huge Somali population, Laotians, Burmese … and they are all comfortable. Whether it’s the climate, or how they’re able to find work, or the people, they have been welcomed.” The festival also helps tell the world about Nashville. In 2011, the State Department sent a film crew as part of a documentary segment on how communities are embracing new cultures. “We are a model of how we treat our neighbors, and how we learn more about them,” Politte says. “It makes you very proud to be from here.”

From Japan to Nashville Robust foreign direct investment fuels job growth For local communities, foreign direct investment is a game changer – fueling job growth, economic development and global business opportunities. In the Nashville region, investments by Japanese companies are providing a particular boost. Blewett Melton, director of International Business for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, says 63 business locations of Japanbased firms in the 10-county Middle Tennessee area employ more than 12,000 people. In fact, 40 percent of all foreign direct investment in Middle Tennessee stems from Japan, according to Melton. “Obviously, Japan is a great partner of ours in Middle Tennessee,” Melton says. “If you look at the South in general, typically the largest foreign investor is Japan, and Middle Tennessee is no different. Any time you have different cultures in a region, it is helpful to the economy and growth in the region.” Statewide, 156 Japan-based firms have operations in Tennessee, totaling $11.4 billion and accounting for nearly 35,000 jobs, according to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, citing 2009 statistics. Leigh Wieland, CEO of the JapanAmerica Society of Tennessee Inc., a nonprofit Nashville corporation, says the relationship between Nashville and Japan is “cemented” by many years of mutually beneficial cooperation, as evidenced by an annual spring Cherry Blossom Festival, a sister city arrangement with Kamakura, Japan, and the prestigious Southeast U.S./ Japan Association conference held in 2010 in Nashville. “It’s a very easy relationship,” Wieland says. “It’s similar to how a marriage works. You get to know your partner and your expectations are geared toward your knowledge of that individual. The Japanese have made themselves at home here.” – M.V. Greene

Biz Briefs

A sampling of businesses – large and small – that helps define Nashville’s strong and well-balanced economic climate.

Scorecard

Business at a Glance

$10 billion

Annual Retail Sales

$17,029

Retail Sales per Capita

$2 billion

Annual Hotel and Food Sales

64,653

Total number of firms *Figures provided represent Nashville/ Davidson County

Flavour Clothing Biz: Fashion retailer Buzz: The world of fashion is constantly evolving, and Flavour Clothing, located near Music Row on Demonbreun Street, keeps its customers in the know with the latest designs from top brands, including Bogosse, English Laundry, Custo, Dolce Vita and many others. Flavour Clothing also keeps customers informed about new arrivals on its Facebook page. www.flavourclothing.com

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J. Alexander’s Corp. Biz: Restaurant chain Buzz: Nashville-based restaurant chain J. Alexander’s Corp. offers hungry diners an elevated dining experience, striking a balance between fine and casual. The menu comprises a variety of contemporary American classics throughout the year, as well as seasonal selections. With three local locations, the chain has grown to more than 30 restaurants in 13 states. www.jalexanders.com

eMIDS Technologies Biz: Health IT services Buzz: eMids Technologies is known internationally as a frontrunner of IT and consulting in the everevolving health-care industry. eMids, headquartered in Nashville, has grown from a seven-member team in 1999 to one comprising more than 400 employees. The company also has offices in Boston, Chattanooga and India. www.emids.com

Triple Thread Apparel Biz: Custom apparel Buzz: Triple Thread Apparel bills itself as “custom apparel with a purpose,” producing apparel and supporting Dismas House, a reentry home for former prisoners. The company provides employment and training to former offenders, funneling them into permanent employment as contributing members of society. www.triplethreadapparel.com

Emma Biz: Email marketing services Buzz: Emma is a Web-based email marketing and communications service that helps organizations everywhere communicate and market in style. Designed for small and midsize businesses, nonprofits and agencies, Emma makes it easy to create attractive email campaigns and online surveys, send to large opt-in audiences and track the response in real time. Headquartered in Nashville, Emma operates four satellite offices in Portland, Denver, Austin and New York. www.myemma.com

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economic profile Business snapshot Nashville’s economy is uniquely diverse, which accounts for the area’s resilience in a fluctuating global environment. Continual job creation is the result of a variety of growing industries such as technology, retail, professional and business services, education, health care, leisure and hospitality, transportation and construction.

Economic Resources Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce 211 Commerce St. Ste. 100 Nashville, TN 37201 (615) 743-3000 www.nashvillechamber.com Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development 312 Rosa Parks Ave. 11th Floor Nashville, TN 37243 (615) 741-1888 www.tennessee.gov/ecd

Transportation Nashville International Airport 1 Terminal Dr. Nashville, TN 37214 (615) 275-1675 www.nashintl.com Nashville Metro Transit Authority 130 Nestor St. Nashville, TN 37210 (615) 862-5969 www.nashvillemta.org

Government Offices

major employers

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee (615) 862-5000 www.nashville.gov

Vanderbilt University and Medical Center

Resource for complete listing of government offices and services for Nashville and Davidson County.

Metropolitan Nashville – Davidson County Public Schools

education

6.7%

Associate Degree

19.1%

Bachelor’s Degree

10.6%

Graduate Degree

Taxes

U.S. Government

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County HCA Holdings Inc. Saint Thomas Health Services Nissan Americas Williamson County Government and Public Schools Rutherford County Government Sumner County Government and Public Schools Gaylord Entertainment Co. The Kroger Co. Randstad Shoney’s Inc. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. Bridgestone Americas Inc.

2.25%

Middle Tennessee State University

Local Sales Tax

Dollar General Corp.

National HealthCare Corp.

State Sales Tax

9.25% Total Sales Tax

What’s Online For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on Nashville, go to livability.com/Nashville/tn and click on Facts.

State of Tennessee

Ingram Industries Inc.

Lowe’s Cos. Inc. Community Health Systems Inc. State Farm Insurance Cos. Asurion

income

$38,656 Per Capita Income

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Technology

Nashville Flexes its Technology Muscles Pioneering health care, music industries lead way Story by M.V. Greene

ashville isn’t usually considered a haven for technology like Silicon Valley in California, the famed Route 128 high-tech corridor in Boston or Microsoft’s home in Redmond, Wash. But the technology community here is coming on strong – leveraging many traditions such as pioneering health-care leadership and, of course, music. The Right Demographics “It’s sort of a secret area. You think of the East Coast and the West Coast as these high-tech areas. But there’s a little sleepy area in the middle of Tennessee that has all the right demographics. We have good schools and businesses. We’re in a state where a lot of people want to live,” says Andy Flatt, CIO of HealthSpring Inc. and outgoing chairman of the Nashville Technology Council (NTC).Flatt and like-minded local technologists are working to raise the region’s high-tech pedigree. An Aug. 22, 2011, Wall Street Journal article listed Nashville as one of seven areas in the country emerging as “industry hubs drawing entrepreneurs and investors” despite the rocky national economy. Noting the region’s more

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than 250 health-care companies, the article pegs Nashville as a beacon for start-up activity in areas such as medical devices and patient-care systems. Chris Sloan, NTC incoming chairman, along with its new president and CEO Liza Lowery Massey, a CIO and leader of several large technology organizations, are intent on capitalizing on the region’s many assets. Chief among them is a willingness among industry leaders to share knowledge, Massey says. “Countless hours are volunteered to initiatives such as tech workforce development at universities, high schools and even middle schools,” Massey says. “Successful business professionals volunteer their time to mentor people starting up businesses, and numerous professionals volunteer their time to the NTC to better the region’s tech community through education, professional development and facilitating important connections.” Developing the Workforce Sloan, a technology attorney at the Baker Donelson law firm, says key priorities for his two-year term that began in July 2011 are developing the technology workforce, expanding the nonprofit organization’s

membership from its current 400-member level into a statewide group, and working with the city and state on economic development challenges. For example, a NTC survey shows about 1,100 open tech positions in the region, particularly programmer and analyst roles in the health-care field, Sloan says. Additionally, tech opportunities are on the front burners in the music industry, tourism, marketing and data warehousing. Luring that many technologists to Nashville is not out of the question, Sloan notes. A prime example is Massey, who has previously lived and worked in 14 cities, including the northern Virginia/D.C. area, Las Vegas, Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Los Angeles. “While I did not expect to find such a vibrant, growing tech community here in Middle Tennessee, it is a pleasure to be involved in it,” Massey says. “Unlike other regions of the country, the tech community here is supportive, definitely close knit, and embodies the theory that rising tide lifts all boats. I literally see it every day.” Getting that message to the right eyes and ears is an important

Tight-Knit Tech Community And Nashville technologists promise you’ll find a tech community with plenty of opportunity, innovation and fellowship here. Self-professed “geek” Dave Delaney moved to Nashville in 2007 to work in social media and began helping organize activities for young technologists. These events include annual conferences such as BarCamp and PodCamp, and social events like NashCocktail and Geek Breakfast. Other activities that have emerged are FirstCamp Nashville, an event for local tech-minded high school students, and JumpStart Foundry, an incubation organization that matches technology investors

Photo Courtesy of Dave Delaney

task, Sloan says. “We’ve got to work more on going to the more saturated technology markets and letting people know that if you’re in Silicon Valley and you’re looking here for a job or a change of scenery or lifestyle, come to Nashville. We can put you to work right away,” Sloan says. Massey adds that the NTC is working with the Governor’s Office as well as economic development, higher education and chamber of commerce officials to align efforts behind a five-pillar strategy that will expand the region’s pool of skilled tech workers to fill the open positions. Long-range, this will ensure the region’s businesses can expand while attracting more tech companies and professionals to the region, she says.

PodCamp Nashville

with entrepreneurs. “I think of family when I think of the Nashville technology community,” says Delaney, who worked with noted Nashville-area technology companies before launching his own digital marketing consultancy in February 2012. “This is an incredibly giving city, and everyone is too eager to help one another.” EXPANSIONS & RELOCATIONS The area has several tech-sector headline makers of late with news of expansions and relocations. Griffin Technology, a consumer electronics and accessories company, moved into a larger headquarters facility in South Nashville and opened a distribution warehouse in La Vergne in summer

2011. Other tech companies announcing more jobs for Nashville include Asurion, a technology protection services company, which is growing its Davidson County corporate headquarters and adding 500 jobs over the next five years; Avure Technologies, the world’s leading technology company for high-tech pressurization in the food industry, which has moved its headquarters from Kent, Wash. to Franklin, Tenn. and expects to add 30 jobs; and BNY Mellon, a global leader in investment management and services, which is building a processing center as part of its Davidson County expansion, bolstering the company’s infrastructure and creating dozens of new jobs.

3 To watch new local start-ups in Health-care technology Shareable Ink: Recently named one of America’s Most Innovative Companies by Forbes, this health-care IT startup produces software that transforms handwritten doctors’ scribbles into digital text. The company relocated from Boston to Nashville this fall as part of the TNInvestco program. Healthcare Productivity Automation: This Franklin-based start-up produces robotic automation software that handles the manual processing of health-care payments and is designed to reduce error-producing shortcuts in processing large amounts of data, according to founder Sal Novin. Jericho Sciences: Headed by researcher Heidi Kay, this biotech company, which recently relocated from northern Virginia to Nashville, develops new therapies to fight viruses, such as HIV and other diseases, in partnership with academic, institutional, government and business collaborators.

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Vanderbilt University Medical Center

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Health

Here’s to Your Health Nashville’s premier medical services keep industry booming Story by Tiffany L. Williams

By the numbers Annual global economic impact of the Nashville region’s health care industry

400,000 Number of jobs created internationally by health care companies in the Nashville region

P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f va n d erb i lt m e d i c a l cen t er

$70B

ashville has been called the Silicon Valley of health care, and for good reason. The industry is the city’s fastest-growing and largest employer. The health care industry provides the Nashville economy with approximately $30 billion and 200,000 jobs annually. The effects of Nashville as a health care mecca extend far beyond Music City, the borders of Tennessee or even the United States. Globally, Nashville’s health care companies contribute more than $70 billion in revenue to the world economy and more than 400,000 jobs annually. Meanwhile, the Nashville Health Care Council, an association of health care industry leaders founded in 1995 by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, works hard to ensure continued growth in the sector to further establish the region as the nation’s health care industry capital. The benefit of such a strong health care sector is twofold for residents of Middle Tennessee: Not only do these companies strengthen the local economy but they ensure greater choice, convenience and access to the most advanced health care services available anywhere, provided by scores of hospitals, medical centers, specialized clinics and practices.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center One of Nashville’s most nationally recognized names in health care, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is one of the nation’s premier research and teaching facilities, and in 2011 ranked in 11 of 16 specialties examined by U.S. News & World Report. The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt also made the list, ranking in 10 of 10 specialties, including No. 5 in urology. Besides being among the topperforming facilities in the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals Report for 2011, VUMC also earned recognition from Healthcare IT News for being among the “most wired” hospital systems in the country. With more than 800 beds, VUMC serves patients from all over the mid-South region and employs more than 14,000 fulltime staff members. HCA & TriStar Health System Another huge name in health care is Nashville-based Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), which in 2011 became a publicly traded company for the third time since its founding in 1968. LifePoint Hospitals, an HCA spinoff, recently formed a joint venture with Duke University li v abili t y . c o m / Nas h v ill e / t n

Health System to assemble a network of hospitals throughout North Carolina. In terms of local care providers, HCA’s TriStar Health System is the region’s largest health care system, and its local hospitals are known for their surgical and cardiovascular care. Area HCA facilities include Centennial Medical Center (also making the 2011 Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals Report), Summit Medical Center‚ Skyline Medical Center‚ Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, Hendersonville Medical Center‚ Southern Hills Medical Center, Stonecrest Medical Center in Smyrna and Horizon Medical Center in Dickson. In addition to HCA, Vanguard Health Systems also recently went public. The Nashville-based company owns and operates 26 hospitals in five states, as well as two surgery centers and three health insurance plans. Saint Thomas Health Still thousands more turn to the facilities and providers of Saint Thomas Health, formed in 2002 and including Saint Thomas Hospital and Baptist Hospital. Saint Thomas Hospital‚ operated by the Daughters of Charity and founded in 1898‚ is nationally recognized for its outstanding cardiac and cancer units. It has been recognized many times as a Top 100 Hospital by Thomson Reuters Healthcare, and has received HealthGrades awards for patient experience, patient safety and clinical excellence. Baptist Hospital is Nashville’s largest not-for-profit medical center. Founded in 1919‚ the hospital’s main campus covers nearly 2 million square feet and spans more than six city blocks. Baptist Hospital has achieved multiple HealthGrades five-star ratings in cardiac care, orthopedics, pulmonary care and gastrointestinal surgery. The hospital also is well known for its Women’s Pavilion‚ where approximately 7‚000 babies are delivered each year – more than any other hospital in Middle Tennessee. Besides these two hospitals, Saint Thomas Health comprises

Middle Tennessee Medical Center, The Hospital for Spinal Surgery, Hickman Community Hospital, Baptist Sports Medicine, Saint Thomas Outpatient Imaging, 13 ambulatory centers, 250 physician practices and 18 other subsidiaries. Health Care Industry Keeps Booming The health care industry in Nashville continues to chart growth in terms of expansions, relocations and ultimately new jobs for the region. A few highlights from recent announcements

include: Healthcare Management Systems, which develops, sells and supports integrated clinical and financial hospital information systems and services, expanded, adding 81 jobs; APS Healthcare, relocating to Franklin, expects to create 75 positions; Emdeon, a leading provider of revenue and payment cycle management and clinical information exchange solutions, added 40 jobs; and HealthSpring Inc. plans for as many as 300 positions at its new $53 million headquarters over the next two years.

Launch Your career TodaY “Real Skills for Real Jobs”

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… and manY mORe programs available! Tennessee Technology Center at Nashville is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, www.tbr.edu, and is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education, 7840 Roswell Rd., Building 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30350, Telephone: 770-396-3898 / Fax: 770-396-3790. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at www.ttcnashville.edu. TTCN complies with nondiscrimination laws: Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, and ADA.

100 White Bridge rd. • nashville, Tn 37209 • (615) 425-5500 • www.ttcnashville.edu

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Health

Walking the Walk Nashville promotes a healthy lifestyle through a series of programs

Story by Cary Estes Photography by Antony Boshier

ashville is not just talking the talk when it comes to promoting outdoor exercise. City officials are literally walking the walk. A program called NashVitality is publicizing the various walking, running and biking options that abound throughout Nashville. Mayor Karl Dean helped the city take one of the first steps in this healthy direction with an initiative called “Walk 100 Miles with the Mayor,” a series of 28 public walks that took place over a three-month period. In November 2011, more than 5,000 people joined Dean for the “Mayor’s Challenge 5K Walk/Run” through downtown Nashville. “From the city’s perspective, we really try to lead by example,” says Marne Duke, communications coordinator for the Nashville Metro Public Health Department. “Nashville is the health care capital of the world, and now we’re working to be the health capital of the world.

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“Good health starts at home and in our neighborhoods. We’re taking that idea and creating more opportunities for people to live healthy lives.” GreenBikes, Greenways and Open Spaces In 2010, Nashville began offering a free service called GreenBikes, which allows anybody age 18 and older to borrow a bicycle for the day. The program was expanded in 2011 with the donation of 100 bikes from Regions Bank. There are plenty of places to ride, thanks to the Nashville Greenways Project, a series of 200 miles of trails that can be used for biking, jogging and walking. And there will be more places to play to come. In April 2011, Dean announced his Open Space Plan, which calls for the preservation of 22,000 acres of land over the next 25 years, including the creation of 3,000 acres of parkland over the next decade.

“We’re trying to give people more options so they can walk to the store or ride their bike safely throughout the city,” Duke says. “It’s a way for people to be physically active in the city, which is good for our physical health and our mental health.” For those looking for more than just casual exercise, there is the Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon, held every April since 2000. More than 30,000 runners participate in the event, which includes a two-day Health & Fitness Expo. Healthways Nashville-based Healthways, a wellness improvement and solutions provider, also contributes to the city’s good health though a variety of initiatives, including sponsorship of the Ragnar Relay Series, a 200-mile run from Chattanooga to Nashville. In addition, Healthways and the Healthways Foundation are involved in projects that examine

Shelby Bottoms Greenway

By the numbers

30,000+ Runners participate in the Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon

3,000 Acres of parkland will be created in the next decade, per Nashville Mayor Karl Deanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open Space Plan

200 Miles of trails make up the Nashville Greenways Project

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the overall health of the city and region. For example, the Healthways Gallup Well-Being Index is a national poll that tracks health trends and behavior through a series of 1,000 phone interviews every day. “It gets real-time information and insight into the health trends of the American public,” says Vicki Shepard, the director of government and industry relations for Healthways. “It helps communities look at where things are working well, and what they can do to improve the quality of life. “You want to keep up with the well-being of your community. Anything that makes the community more vibrant helps attract people to the community, which is what Nashville is doing with all their health efforts and programs.” The Healthways Foundation is among several sponsors for the Children’s Health Crisis Project, a three-year initiative built around a series of Emmy-winning documentaries examining the state of children’s health in Middle Tennessee. The documentaries were produced by Nashville Public Television. In addition to the Healthways Foundation, major sponsors of the project are the Nashville Health Care Council, the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics and the Baptist Healing Trust, with additional funding by the Orrin H. Ingram Fund. Many community partnerships also provided support, most notably Alignment Nashville, whose “5 Pillars of Children’s Health” provided the initial outline for the project.

The Nashville Greenways Project provides a series of 200 miles of trails that can be used for biking, jogging and walking.

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Fit for a King Downtown YMCA Gets Record Renovation YMCA of Middle Tennessee has served the greater Nashville area for more than 130 years now, and has grown to include more than 20 fitness facilities throughout the region. The organization recently completed the largest expansion and renovation project in its history, with a $20 million investment in its downtown Nashville location on Church Street. The project doubled the locationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s size, added a 66,000-square-foot parking garage and a variety of sleek, new exercise equipment. The organization offers a variety of youth programs, summer camps, group fitness, personal training, outreach programs and activities for seniors. For more, visit ymcamidtn.org.

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Education

Brain Magnet Nashville colleges, universities attract, train and retain talent

Story by Jessica Walker Photography by Antony Boshier

ith almost two dozen colleges and universities and more than 100,000 college students enrolled – more per capita than Boston, Mass. – Nashville is known as the “Athens of the South,” and for good reason. Its concentration of reputable higher-education institutions has a positive ripple effect on the local economy, supplying the region with a healthy base of skilled, knowledgeable workers. The Nashville area is also gaining a reputation for the wealth of educated talent it attracts. Forbes recently ranked Nashville as the fourth-best city in the country for college graduates, highlighting its rising college-educated migration growth, which beat out larger cities like New York and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the area’s many educational institutions perpetuate the city’s reputation as a smart place to live. Higher Education The Nashville area truly is a center for higher education, with more than 20 four-year colleges and universities, six community colleges and 11 vocational and technical schools. Vanderbilt University has 10 schools and total enrollment of more than 11,000, making it a driving force educationally and economically. Founded in 1873,

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the university consistently places among America’s top higherlearning institutions in rankings by indexes such as U.S. News & World Report. Belmont University is well known for its music and music

by the numbers

100,000+ Number of students enrolled in Nashville region colleges, universities and technical schools

29.7% Percentage of Nashvillians who hold a bachelor’s degree of higher

4 Nashville’s ranking on Forbes’ recent list of Best Cities in the Country for College Graduates

business programs, and is the largest Christian university and second largest private university in the state, behind Vanderbilt. This year marks the introduction of its new College of Law, the first new law school in Middle

Tennessee in almost 100 years. Belmont is among top regional universities in the South, according to U.S. News & World Report. Lipscomb University, which is affiliated with the Church of Christ, offers more than 100 programs of study, including undergraduate degrees with a sustainability focus and Tennessee’s first “green” MBA. U.S. News & World Report named it among the South’s up-and-coming universities. Other higher-education options here include Fisk University; Tennessee State University; Watkins College of Art, Design and Film; Trevecca Nazarene University; and Meharry Medical College, which has received numerous NIH and CDC grants to do work on AIDS, health disparities and infant mortality. Middle Tennessee State University in Mufreesboro, which is celebrating its centennial year, is known for its world-class music and recording industry program. To the east, there’s Cumberland University in Lebanon, and to the north in Clarksville is the main campus for Austin Peay State University. Public Education Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools implements a core

Smart Thinking Nashville chamber backs several education programs

A professor instructs a student at Lipscomb University.

curriculum reform plan for grades K-8, which has raised school accountability as well as student performance standards. Students in grades 3-8 must take a standardized test, the TCAP, or the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program. The test meausures skills in reading, language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. Private SCHOOLS Middle Tennessee also has a long tradition of private education and provides choices to accommodate individual religious beliefs‚ as well as alternative educational methods and approaches. Private schools in the area include secular schools, institutions affiliated with specific religious denominations and schools that offer single-sex learning environments.

There are schools that focus on learning differences to help students with special needs surpass expectations,such as Currey Ingram Academy and Willow Hall Academy. Magnet Schools Nashville students have access to a variety of magnet schools; three focus on academics, three others focus on math and science and one specializes in technology-driven business and communications. Two magnet schools, HumeFogg Academic High School and the Nashville Schools of the Arts, enjoy national recognition. Students are selected for these schools through a random lottery process‚ although in some cases qualifying requirements may exist.

Marc Hill knows that good schools are a driver for economic development and job creation, plus top schools are attractive to families. For these reasons and many more, the chief policy officer for Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce says the chamber is heavily involved in backing education initiatives within the community. “For example, over the years the chamber has pushed for legislative changes to establish more charter schools in Nashville, and today there are 11 charter schools – with more coming on board every year,” Hill says. “There are also four magnet schools in the city that are ranked among the best in the nation.” Hill adds that increasingly, Nashville is being recognized across the country for innovation in its public high schools. “Within all 12 of our zoned public high schools, Academies of Nashville have been added that feature career-based programs for students,” he says. Through chamber coordination, 150 local businesses partner with the academies. The chamber is involved with SuccessPAC, a political action committee whose goal is to get good people to run for the school board and help them be successful. Then there’s ONE NASHVILLE, a chamber-supported campaign that urges people in the city to help support public schools. “The chamber is also behind Nashville Mayor Karl Dean’s local efforts with Teach for America, which recruits top college grads to teach for at least two years in high-need schools,” he says. “About 100 Teach for America grads are currently teaching in Nashville public schools. The results have been impressive.” – Kevin Litwin

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Living in Style Nashville has a multitude of options to call home Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Antony Boshier

etro Nashville comprises all of Davidson County and has several distinct neighborhoods. Those neighborhoods offer residential options ranging from high-rise apartments to historic homes to architecturally beautiful condominiums. Downtown The District‚ downtown Nashville’s 16-block dining and entertainment area, is a magnet for urban professionals to live and work. Residential projects of note include a 305-unit condominium development called Viridian along the Church Street corridor, and The Cumberland – a 23-story luxury high-rise. All along Second Avenue are loft apartments tucked above shops and clubs. A downtown development gaining momentum just south of the central business district is Rolling Mill Hill, a masterplanned community of brand-new and renovated structures that

includes retail and mixed-use spaces. The entire development offers excellent views of both the city skyline and the Cumberland River. The development’s largest structures are two renovated buildings and a brand-new building, as well as the 1930s Trolley Barns, which are being used by several tenants for offices. The Gulch Formerly a run-down section of town along 11th Avenue South and 12th Avenue South, The Gulch is now one of Nashville’s hippest areas. It has been certified as an environmentally green neighborhood with residential options that include ICON‚ Terrazzo and Velocity – all luxury urban condo projects. Germantown This 18-square-block area with great views of downtown was the site of Nashville’s first residential subdivision, with structures built as early as the 1830s. An influx of

Clockwise from top left: New mixed-use development in The Gulch near downtown Nashville; A sunny porch in Sylvan Park; Historic homes near Five Points in East Nashville

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From far left: Luxury condominiums at ICON in The Gulch; a historic home in Germantown north of downtown Nashville; 12South Taproom & Grill, a favorite hangout for residents of the 12South neighborhood and beyond

creative new residents has again made Germantown a diverse and vibrant urban neighborhood. East Nashville Just across the Cumberland from Germantown and downtown, East Nashville is a community of artists, musicians and those seeking a creative vibe in their neighborhood. The area is home to several historic neighborhoods unified by the retail district Five Points, a hot spot for independent businesses. East Nashville features many Victorian-era homes, Craftsmanstyle bungalows and sprawling 1950s ranch-style houses along leafy streets. 12South Just south of downtown Nashville near Belmont University, the 12South neighborhood between Linden and Kirkwood avenues‚ north of Woodmont Boulevard, is home to a mix of families, young professional singles and college students. The area’s sidewalked streets are lined with independent restaurants, funky retail shops and many beautifully restored historic homes.

Green Hills This community is known for its upscale homes and good schools that include the private Harpeth Hall for girls. Green Hills is home to The Mall at Green Hills and Hill Center Green Hills, both among the most visited retail destinations in all of Nashville. Antioch Antioch is in the southeastern portion of Metro Nashville and has many affordable homes and convenience to restaurants and retail, making Antioch popular with first-time buyers as well as young families with children. Bellevue Bellevue, located in the western portion of Metro Nashville, is a family community with three public schools and one private. Bellevue has seen a spike in population growth since 2000, especially in already-established areas along Old Hickory Boulevard and Highway 70 South. Donelson/Hermitage These two communities east of the city are near J. Percy Priest Lake and Nashville International Airport. Landmarks in this

quaint, attractive area include the Grand Ole Opry and The Hermitage, which was once home to President Andrew Jackson. Madison/Goodlettsville Madison and Goodlettsville are in the northern portion of Nashville, and good deals on fine homes are available. The community has a strong tax base thanks in large part to RiverGate Mall and surrounding retail development. West Nashville Richland and Sylvan Park – popular neighborhoods filled with historic homes – are within minutes of downtown. Further west, established neighborhoods such as West Meade feature substantial homes ranging from the postwar period to new construction. College Neighborhoods Hillsboro Village is near Vanderbilt‚ while the Jefferson Street District is near Fisk University and Meharry Medical College. Homes surrounding Belmont and Middle Tennessee State University feature a true mix of ages‚ home styles‚ cultures and ideas. li v abili t y . c o m / Nas h v ill e / t n

Livability

Party for the Palate Music Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s restaurants keep your taste buds dancing

An t o n y B o s h i er

J e f f re y S . OTTO

Jeff Adkins

Story by Tiffany L. Williams

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ashville is known as Music City, but it will have more than your toes tapping. Its many restaurants, bakeries and bars are sure to have your taste buds tickled, too. For starters, head over to one of Nashville’s many famous breakfast spots. But be prepared to wait awhile. At the Pancake Pantry, the line is almost always wrapped around the building, with locals

and tourists alike waiting for a stack of those famous hot cakes. Keeping the groove going is FiddleCakes or Fox’s Donut Den, where one can choose from menus stocked with donuts, pastries, muffins and more. Though it’s open for lunch and dinner, the Loveless Café serves breakfast all day and is renowned for its scratch-made biscuits and traditional Southern cuisine.

Caffeine, Please If your taste buds are tired, wake them up at the DrinkHaus Espresso + Tea, Ugly Mugs, Frothy Monkey or Dunn Bros. These coffee houses offer some of Nashville’s best caffeinated or non-caffeinated beverages for even the hardest-to-please palate. When it’s time for lunch or dinner, dance on over to F. Scott’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar,

Clockwise from top left: The popular Pancake Pantry; Outdoor dining at Taco Mamacita; Flame-grilled pork tenderloin from Amerigo

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je f f a d k i n s

Watermark Restaurant, Mère Bulles or Burger Up. Or boogie on down to Belcourt Avenue where you’ll find Cabana and Sunset Grill. Bound’ry, Midtown Cafe and Germantown Cafe are also good choices when American cuisine tops your list. If it’s barbecue, soul food or even hot chicken you crave, Nashville’s got you covered there, too. Jack’s Bar-B-Que, Bar-BCutie, Monell’s Dining and Catering, Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, 400 Degrees and Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish are just a few of the restaurants that keep the medley of meals in Music City moving. Favorites from Around the Globe Speaking of moving, The Local Taco, Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina, Mas Tacos, Qdoba and Taco Mamacita will have you dancing south of the border without ever leaving Nashville. Staying in tune are Maggiano’s Little Italy and Amerigo, both offering some of the finest Italian food favorites. If Vietnamese or Japanese get your tongue twirling, then choose from Far East Nashville or Zumi Sushi Japanese Kitchen.

An t o n y B o s h i er

Just Ask Your Bartender From local beer to expertly mixed cocktails, you’ll be in high spirits at Music City’s premier bars and pubs. Holland House Bar and Refuge, McCabe Pub, Cadillac Ranch Bar and Grill, Bailey’s Sports Grille, Big River Grille and Brewing, BB King’s Blues Club & Restaurant and Red Rooster are only a few of the popular spots tourists and locals flock to.

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From top: Monell’s Dining and Catering; Mas Tacos in East Nashville

The Sweet Spots Nashville offers plenty of places to satisfy that sweet tooth

Brian McCord

You should always save room for dessert in Nashville, which has many spots for sweet treats. At Sweet Cece’s, customers create their own delicious frozen yogurt treats, selecting from a variety of flavors and toppings. Other great options for ice cream and frozen yogurt include Tasti D-Lite, Pied Piper, Mike’s Ice Cream, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and Pinkberry. If you are in the mood for more exotic cool treats, be sure to try the gourmet popsicles at Las Paletas (shown above right) where flavors like plum, hibiscus and even avocado are featured. Another local fresh fruit option? Edible Arrangements. The cupcake craze is well represented in Nashville, too; it’s just a matter of finding your favorite. You can find these perfectly portioned, cake-craving satisfiers at Gigi’s Cupcakes, The Cupcake Collection, Sweet 16th and Sweet ‘n Sassy Bakery. And if a lone cupcake just isn’t enough, then Nothing Bundt Cakes on White Bridge Road should help.

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p h o t o c o u r t e s y o f R ee d H u m m e l l

Brian McCord

An t o n y B o s h i er

J e f f re y S . OTTO

Livability

Well-Rounded Culture Nashville residents enjoy an array of cultural offerings – and no, they don’t always include music

ashville may be known for its music scene, but it also offers a broader cultural atmosphere. Home to world-class museums, galleries, theaters, festivals and events, Music City’s star is shining brighter than ever. Performing Arts in Nashville In the performing arts realm, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center downtown regularly hosts Broadway musicals, opera, ballet performances and concerts. Completed in 2006 and also located downtown, the magnificent Schermerhorn Symphony Center is home to the prestigious Nashville Symphony. Bridgestone Arena on Broadway is another hot spot in the local arts scene. The huge 20,000-seat, all-purpose venue hosts concerts, family shows and sporting events, including the Nashville Predators professional ice hockey team. Those looking for a more refined evening of entertainment may be drawn to the Noah Liff Opera Center, where the Nashville Opera performs. Specifically for youth, there’s Rocketown, a nonprofit facility founded by Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith in 1994. The facility includes a skate park and music venue. Young people should also check

out performances by Nashville Children’s Theatre, which is the oldest professional children’s theater company in the country. Visual Arts Local highlights in the visual arts include the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, the Parthenon and a throng of independent art galleries around the city that showcase nearly every medium of art. The first Saturday of every month, independent downtown galleries open their doors to the public for the First Saturday Art Crawl. The Tennessee State Museum is another venue that celebrates the arts, often offering free admission to changing exhibits. Fans of independent and foreign films love The Belcourt Theatre, which first opened its doors in 1925, playing silent films. Today, the theater presents a variety of movies along with selected performances and other events, such as the 48-Hour Film Project. Cultural Festivals As diversity in the Nashville area has grown over the years‚ so has the number of festivals celebrating cultural heritage. Oktoberfest, the city’s oldest

cultural event, has been held annually since it began in 1980 in historic Germantown. There also are the Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and the African American Street Festival at Hadley Park. And there is the Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival held at Centennial Park on the first weekend of October. More than 30 cultures are represented at the free event. Live Music and Music Festivals True to its name – Music City – live music of all genres can be found most anywhere in Nashville, from the streets of Broadway to the stages of outdoor festivals. Music festivals of all types energize Nashville throughout the year. One of the first is the annual month-long Awesome April, which features performances by songwriters of country, gospel, bluegrass and more. Tin Pan South is a week-long songwriters’ festival produced by the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Other notable celebrations include the CMA Music Festival, the Rites of Spring and the Music City July 4th Weekend, which features a free outdoor concert with some of music’s greatest stars.

Clockwise from top left: Rocketown; Oktoberfest; Frist Center for the Visual Arts; A performance by the Nashville Opera

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photos by Jeff Adkins

Livability

Left to right: National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators; Percy Warner Park

Play All Day Nashville offers sports, outdoor activities and good times

ashville’s sports and recreation options create an ideal environment for fun, whether you want to get active yourself or just actively cheer on your favorite team. With hockey, football and baseball teams, fishing and hunting opportunities, several parks and growing greenways, there’s lots to see and do in the area. Professional Sports Music City hosts scores of sports events that translate into millions in economic impact. Nashville is home to the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators, the National Football League’s Tennessee Titans and the Nashville Sounds Class AAA minor league baseball team, which plays its summertime games just south of downtown in Greer Stadium. The Nashville Sports Council, founded in 1992 to bring tourism dollars into the city and

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heighten the awareness of Nashville as a sports destination, was instrumental in bringing the Titans and Predators organizations to town. Another major sports event in Nashville is the annual 26.2-mile Country Music Marathon and 1/2-Marathon in April. Youth Sports Active youth associations provide athletic outlets for the region’s children. As in many American cities‚ soccer has moved to the forefront as a popular team sport for kids. In addition to the huge soccer leagues‚ almost every county in the area offers leagues for baseball‚ gymnastics‚ football and basketball. Lakes, Natural Areas and Water Fun Regardless of what might float your boat‚ Davidson County is home to three lakes that will

surely satisfy one’s thirst for being on or near the water. J. Percy Priest and Old Hickory lakes‚ both of which are managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers‚ offer a variety of activities such as boating‚ fishing‚ swimming and camping. J. Percy Priest Lake has 31 recreation areas‚ nearly 500 camping sites‚ eight swimming areas and 31 boat docks. Old Hickory has 65 recreation areas‚ 590 camping sites‚ 11 swimming areas and 56 boat ramps. Those looking for a more serene lake experience should motor south of town to Radnor Lake‚ which is run by Tennessee State Parks. The lake is located 8 miles south of downtown Nashville and is ideal for the peace and quiet of passive recreational pursuits. The main mission of Radnor Lake is wildlife preservation, but visitors may enjoy 6 miles of hiking trails‚ and

jogging and bicycling are allowed, but only on the park’s paved road. Visitors can also take ranger-led canoe floats on the lake from late April to early October, in addition to other scheduled events. Hunting Both small- and big-game hunting are available in several state-operated Wildlife Management Areas. There are several hunting reserves in the Cheatham‚ Hermitage‚ Old Hickory and Percy Priest areas‚ as well as in the Land Between the Lakes near Dover‚ about two hours northwest of Nashville. Hunting seasons are strictly regulated. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency can provide more information.

Springs Golf Links‚ Vanderbilt Legends Club and Hermitage Golf Course. Surrounding areas such as Kingston Springs also offer resort play. Metro Board of Parks and Recreation also operates several outstanding public golf courses. Metro Parks Programs and Facilities In addition to its public golf courses and scores of parks and playgrounds, the Metro Board of Parks and Recreation arranges annual softball and basketball

league play. The board also oversees the Sportsplex at Centennial Park. The city-owned Sportsplex features indoor and outdoor tennis courts‚ two ice skating rinks‚ an indoor pool and workout areas with instructors. Two of the city’s most popular parks, Edwin and Percy Warner parks, earned recognition in January 2012 from Women’s Running magazine, named among the top five trail running destinations in the country.

Growing Greenways Nashville greenways include more than 40 miles of paths‚ and the Parks and Greenways Master Plan aims to grow that to 210 miles eventually. Existing paths include the Richland Creek Greenway, a 2.5-mile scenic trail that winds around McCabe Golf Course‚ which was the site of Nashville’s first airport. The trail opened in 2007 and connects the neighborhoods of Sylvan Park and Cherokee Park with the shopping centers and entertainment areas of White Bridge Road. Richland Creek is just one of the greenways Nashville has developed since the commission was created in 1992. The Harpeth River Greenway at Morton Mill Road was the first‚ and the city’s crown jewel is the Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Nature Park. It offers 5 miles of paved multi-use trails and another 5 miles of primitive hiking trails. The 810-acre park is a haven for migrating birds and other wildlife. Golf Galore The region’s mild climate and large number of public and private golf courses make it possible to get a tee time almost any month of the year. Nashville features three resort courses – the Gaylord

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advertisers Ascend Federal Credit Union www.ascendfcu.org AT&T www.att.com BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee www.bcbst.com City of Goodlettsville www.cityofgoodlettsville.org Colliers International www.colliers.com Diocese of Nashville www.dioceseofnashville.com Drees Homes www.dreeshomes.com/nash Earl Swensson Associates Inc. www.esarch.com Gallatin Economic Development Agency www.gallatin-eda.com Highwoods Properties www.highwoods.com Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance www.mauryalliance.com Metropolitan Nashville International Airport www.flynashville.com Oreck www.oreck.com Overbrook School www.overbrook.edu Richland Place www.richlandplace.com St. Cecilia Academy www.stcecilia.edu St. Paul Christian Academy www.stpaulchristianacademy.org Tennessee Board of Regents www.tbr.edu Tennessee Foreign Language Institute www.tfli.org Tennessee Technology Center Nashville www.ttcnashville.edu The Tennessee Credit Union www.ttcu.org Vanderbilt Legends Club www.vanderbiltlegendsclub.com Zeitlin & Company Realtors www.zeitlinrealtors.com

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communit y profile overview With a rich love for song and deep musical roots, Nashville is truly Music City. The capital of Tennessee, Nashville sits in the northcentral portion of the state along the Cumberland River.

Climate Overview Nashville’s climate is moderate, with seasonal variation rarely lapsing into extreme temperatures. Its humidity is also considered moderate for the Southeast. Precipitation is heaviest in winter and early spring, and thunderstorms in Nashville are moderately frequent from March through September.

89˚ F

July Average High

28˚ F

January Average Low

48”

household information AGE:

35.7

Median Resident Age

24.3% < 18

24.6% 18-34

29% 35-54

22.1% 55+

Annual Rain Fall (vs. National Average Annual Rain Fall of 37”)

CURRENTLY MARRIED:

time zone

Currently Married

Central

cost of living

$47,975

Median Household Income

$168,209 Average Home Price

$783 Median Rent

49.2% RACE:

77.9% White

26.1 min.

Travel Time to Work (Mean)

resources Driver’s License: Tennessee Department of Safety www.tn.gov/safety/driverlicense/ dlnew.shtml Vehicle Registration: Tennessee Department of Revenue www.tennessee.gov/revenue/ vehicle Voter Registration: Davidson County Election Commission nashville.gov/vote Electricity: Nashville Electric Service www.nespower.com Natural Gas: Nashville Gas Company www.piedmontng.com

15.4%

Water & Sewer:

6.7%

Harpeth Valley Utilities District www.hvud.com

Black

Metro Water Services nashville.gov/water

Other

Waste Management Services:

ETHNICITY:

Metro Nashville Public Works mpw.nashville.gov/Row/Services/ Default.aspx

6.6% Hispanic

What’s Online For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on Nashville, go to livability.com/Nashville/tn and click on Facts.

transportation

Newspaper Subscription: The Tennessean www.tennessean.com Library: Metro Public Library www.library.nashville.org

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Through the Lens

Get the Story Behind the Photo Now that you’ve experienced Nashville through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments. From Our Photo Blog: Nashville The Nashville International Airport is currently undergoing renovations across the entire facility. They’ve added a number of restaurants and shops, along with new colors, lighting, artwork and carpet to give the airport a more trendy style throughout …

Posted by brian mccord

More Online

See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at throughthelensjci.com.

Nashville Skyline

Nas h v ill e

CMA Music Festival

Ad Index

1 Ascend Federal Credit Union

28 Metropolitan Nashville International Airport

C2 AT&T

27 Oreck

34 BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

28 Overbrook School

49 Richland Place

28 St. Cecilia Academy

54 St. Paul Christian Academy

10 Tennessee Board of Regents

18 Tennessee Foreign Language Institute

35 Tennessee Technology Center Nashville

25 The Tennessee Credit Union

10 Vanderbilt Legends Club

19 Zeitlin & Company Realtors

6 City of Goodlettsville

4 Colliers International

18 Diocese of Nashville 2 Drees Homes

C4 Earl Swensson Associates Inc.

C3 Gallatin Economic Development Agency

54 Highwoods Properties

39 Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance