NASHVILLE (June 11, 2010) – In the weeks following the devastating floods of May 1-2, Nashville civic, business and tourism leaders have stressed the message that “Nashville is open for business.”
That message has been heard nationwide, as Music City has been hit this week by the most welcome deluge imaginable: a flood of music fans in town for the CMA Music Festival downtown and the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in nearby Manchester, Tenn., both taking place June 10-13.
PUTTING THE MUSIC IN MUSIC CITY
- Headliners at the CMA Music Festival include the likes of Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum and dozens more.
- Taking the stage at Bonnaroo is an eclectic group of luminaries, including Jay-Z, Kings of Leon, The Dave Mathews Band, Stevie Wonder, Weezer and many more.
- As part of the annual CMT Music Awards show broadcast from Nashville on June 9, donations were made to flood relief efforts organized by Hands On Nashville and Second Harvest Food Bank. CMT ONE COUNTRY is donating $45,000 to Hands On Nashville, while event sponsor Garnier is making an additional $20,000 donation.
- With 95 percent of the city’s hotel rooms booked in advance by fans attending the music festivals, many flood victims who have been staying in hotels and might have been displaced have been assisted by the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association.
BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS SUPPORT
- Of the 2,728 businesses in Nashville’s Davidson County that suffered flood damage, 80 percent are back to business-as-usual, according to the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Research Department. Most businesses that have not yet resumed operations are home-based businesses.
- With the re-opening of Joe’s Crab Shack this week, all downtown tourist destinations and restaurants have re-opened except the Schermerhorn Symphony Center (the Nashville Symphony continues to perform at other venues around town).
- The Business Response Team provides an outlet for area businesses to help one another get back on their feet. Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce President Ralph Schulz said the Team has been busy organizing a series of much anticipated business resource fairs and a business visitation program to meet the needs of recovering businesses.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES