NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 27, 2010) – Site Selection magazine has named the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Partnership 2010 economic development team one of the top 10 economic development groups in the country. Carlyle Carroll, the Chamber’s vice president of recruitment, accepted the award Monday at a conference in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“We are honored to be chosen as one of the top 10 economic development groups out of 15,000 nationwide,” said Janet Miller, the Chamber’s chief economic development and marketing officer. “We work every day to make sure relocating and existing businesses grow and recognize Nashville as the best place to build on their success. This award reaffirms the importance of our efforts to strengthen our region’s economy and create high-quality jobs throughout Middle Tennessee."
The award recognizes the 10 best-performing groups below the statewide level based on their ability to attract and retain jobs; their success at increasing capital investment; and their leadership, innovation and customer service in the field of economic development.
The Nashville Area Chamber’s Partnership 2010 economic development initiative focuses on the four key areas of job creation – recruitment; existing business retention and expansion; entrepreneurship and innovation; and international business.
During the 2009 calendar year, the Chamber’s economic development team helped 21 companies relocate and 34 existing companies expand their operations in Middle Tennessee, adding a total of 7,208 new jobs in the region.
The Chamber also launched the Nashville Music Council with the Nashville Mayor’s Office in May 2009 to support the music industry and capitalize on Nashville’s identity as Music City. In addition, the Chamber and the Nashville Technology Council launched the Nashville Entrepreneur Center in September 2009 as a way to connect entrepreneurs with critical resources to accelerate business creation and growth.
“Significant projects like the Nashville Medical Trade Center point to the Nashville area as a leading metropolitan area in corporate growth,” Carroll said. “This award is an example of the strength that results from cooperation and hard work by all of our economic development partners.”
In addition to the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, other economic development groups receiving the award include Baldwin County (Ala.) Economic Development Alliance; Baton Rouge (La.) Area Chamber; Charlotte (N.C.) Chamber of Commerce and Charlotte (N.C.) Regional Partnership; Dallas Regional Chamber; Greater Houston Partnership; Kansas City Area Development Council; Pittsburgh Regional Alliance; Select Greater Philadelphia; and World Business Chicago. Site Selection did not rank its list of economic development groups.
Site Selection magazine is an economic development publication of Conway Data Inc. The magazine is distributed globally to more than 44,000 executives.
Coverage of the awards will be released in the May issue of Site Selection magazine, and will also be published on www.siteselection.com.
About Partnership 2010
Established in 1990 as an economic development and community enhancement initiative of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Partnership 2010 is a regional cooperative dedicated to making Middle Tennessee among the nation’s best places to live, work and do business. Partnership 2010 is supported by a diverse group of public and private companies as well as governmental agencies from the organization’s 10-county service area. Partnership 2010 members work together to facilitate economic growth and to address regional challenges. For more information, visit www.nashvillechamber.com.