Debby Dale Mason's Blog

Music City Center: An Investment in Nashville's Future

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

With the grand opening celebration for the new Music City Center set for May 19 and 20, we can look forward to another asset that brings visitor dollars to Middle Tennessee.

The 1.2-million-square-foot, environmentally efficient "widescraper" is the largest building of its kind in the South, and has already attracted ...

Nashville Next: Join the Conversation about Our Future

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:09:19 GMT

As a business and economic development organization, the Chamber is involved in Mayor Karl Dean's Nashville Next process to guide Nashville's growth and land development through 2040. This plan aligns with many of our key priorities.

This spring, Nashville Next has featured a series of guest speakers on a variety ...

Creating a Livable Community for People of All Ages

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Guest post by Diane Neighbors, vice mayor, Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County

By 2030, more than 70 million Americans -- twice as many as in 2000 -- will be 65 and older. At that time, older adults will comprise nearly one in five Americans. Recognizing the importance that ...

Metro Council Adopts Downtown Signage Code

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:17:20 GMT

For the past 18 months, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has coordinated a shared public/private effort to amend the Nashville Downtown Code (DTC) by amending the regulations for signage within the downtown area covered under the DTC. Shawn Henry with Tune, Entrekin & White, representing the Chamber, joined Tom ...

Regional Cooperation Helps Nashville Remain Competitive

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:39:12 GMT

Economic development is no longer about two cities fighting for jobs. It's now about regions competing internationally. At the Chamber, many of our initiatives - from Partnership 2020 to WorkIT Nashville to our annual Leadership Study Mission - are focused on making our region able to compete economically with the ...

Business Input Helps Shape Nashville's Future

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 14:51:14 GMT

Mayor Karl Dean has launched a two-and-a-half-year process called Nashville Next -- led by Rick Bernhardt and the Metro Planning Department -- to create a community-driven, countywide plan that will guide Nashville's growth and land development through 2040. The last time Nashville's General Plan was updated was in 1992, and ...

Nashville Community & Transit Planners Welcome Input From Business Leaders

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:34:17 GMT

Over the next several weeks, there are three opportunities for Nashville business leaders to provide input into important community projects – the Midtown area zone change, events and activities including the Tennessee State Fair at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, and the East-West Connector bus rapid transit project. Each of these ...

Celebrating 50 Years of Metro Government

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 08:00:00 GMT

In 1963, Nashville became the first large U.S. city to adopt a consolidated city-county government. Nashville is now a national model for metropolitan areas, and remains one of the leading examples of full consolidation of city and county into one government.

Our history of shared governance has paved the way ...

New Metro Budget Aligns With Chamber's Community Priorities

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:25:25 GMT

Last night, the Metro Council adopted a substitute budget that included a 53-cent property tax increase. The substitute budget, which was offered by Budget & Finance Committee Chair Sean McGuire, addresses many of the same priorities that the Chamber board supported in Mayor Dean's budget.

Every city has a process ...

Investing In Our Future Is Critical For Economic Prosperity

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 11:38:57 GMT

As the Metro budget process continues in preparation for an anticipated final vote by the Metro Council on Tuesday, June 19, the Chamber continues to share the reasons for our board-adopted position in support of the mayor’s proposed 2012-2013 operating and capital budgets with our members, business and community leaders ...

Examining the Policy Behind the Metro Budget Process

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:05:11 GMT

Now that Mayor Dean has introduced his proposed 2012-2013 budget, what are the next steps?

The Metro budget process continues, with the Metro Council conducting its own department operating budget meetings between now and June 15. The second reading and public hearings for both the capital improvement and the operating ...

Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena Boost Nashville Economy

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Nashville's cultural and entertainment offerings play a key role in the economic vitality of our city and region and help create an environment that attracts residents, workers and businesses.

The Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena generate a combined annual economic impact of approximately $410 million, according to a new report...

How Smarter Immigration Laws Would Boost the Economy

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:00:00 GMT

In March, Forbes magazine named Nashville one of the best cities in the U.S. for minority entrepreneurs. One of the most important factors contributing to this ranking is that the Nashville region has the fastest-growing immigrant population in the nation. Without a doubt, this influx of new residents -- and ...

Business Input Needed into Nashville’s Proposed Downtown Signage Code

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:38:33 GMT

The strength and growth of Nashville’s downtown core is important to the economic vitality of our county and region and is a key objective of the Chamber’s Partnership 2020 plan. Planning and zoning processes that support the growth of our downtown are essential. The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has ...

A Regional Mindset Is the Catalyst for Middle Tennessee's Success

Debby Dale Mason - Community Action — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:02:20 GMT

So much has changed in Middle Tennessee in the past two decades. In 1990, we had no Titans; no Predators; no Music City Star; no Hemlock; no GM facility; no Southwest hub; and no Nissan Leaf.

These developments -- among many others -- are due in part to a new ...