Annual Meeting Commemorates Interconnectedness, Shared Success


The Chamber and Partnership 2020 celebrated another record-setting year for job growth at our Annual Meeting on Sept. 30.

From July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015, the Nashville region exceeded the aggressive performance metrics set forth in the P2020 strategic plan, with 17,562 announced jobs leading to $2.7 billion in capital investment.

Our new five-year economic development strategy, launched in February, will build on this momentum by maintaining a focus on three key drivers: economic prosperity, talent development and preserving the Nashville region's quality of place. These three elements, along with a strong foundation of regional collaboration, will help Middle Tennessee remain nationally and internationally competitive.





At the meeting, we introduced Jim Schmitz, Middle Tennessee president of Regions Bank, as our new Partnership co-chair. Schmitz assumes the leadership role recently vacated by Milton Johnson, chairman and CEO of HCA, whose tenure was marked by unprecedented growth and success. We also announced that newly elected Mayor Megan Barry has accepted the co-chairmanship of Partnership 2020. Barry's economic development agenda and commitment to effective regionalism align closely with Chamber priorities, and we look forward to working with her office.





Interconnectedness was the theme of the Annual Meeting, as we heard from keynote speaker Dennis Kish, VP of Google Fiber. Kish gave us a preview of what to expect when Google Fiber becomes available in Nashville. Fiber, which delivers information at nearly the speed of light, has the power to transform how businesses work, grow and access the world.





With its high concentration of health care, music, technology, STEM and entertainment jobs, Nashville has many businesses with high potential to flourish once super-fast Internet is available, Kish predicted. "With this network, Nashville will be one of the fastest cities in the world," he said. "The 'gigabit age' is upon us, and Nashville is poised to lead the way."

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