Creativity is part of the fabric of life in Middle Tennessee and helps define us as a region. Two of our largest industries -- health care and music -- are characterized by innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
The Chamber focuses on quality of place/livability as one of the strategic drivers of our Partnership 2020 economic development initiative. That includes working to attract skilled talent, also known as the
creative class, which has emerged as a driving force in our nation's economy.
We know that quality of place is especially important to younger workers, who frequently choose a community based on its available amenities before even finding a job. According to the
Middle Tennessee Workforce Study, a skilled workforce will be the Nashville region's most important resource in the coming decade. One way we can win the war for talented, educated workers is to offer more than just good-paying jobs. We must make sure our community also boasts the essential combination of fun things to do and fun people to do them with.
We're fortunate that the Nashville region has built-in appeal thanks to our worldwide reputation as Music City. In fact, earlier this year, no less an authority than
Rolling Stone declared Nashville to have the country's
best music scene. But it's not just about the music. We've also been named one of the best cities for
sports, foodies and
nightlife, and Livability.com listed Nashville as one of the top U.S.
cities for college graduates.
With two major-league sports teams, a growing array of restaurants, live music of every genre, world-class cultural attractions such as the
Frist Center and
Cheekwood, and professional
ballet, opera and
symphony companies, Middle Tennessee's leisure activities span a wide range of tastes. All of this creates momentum for the Nashville region and helps us continue to attract and retain a talented and creative workforce.