The competition for jobs, talent and investment is tougher than ever. Economic development has moved beyond the traditional model of offering incentives and tax breaks to large employers; we now rely on quality of place as a key strategic driver as we work to grow Middle Tennessee’s economy.
Smart Growth America, a national advocate for intelligent placemaking, has named Nashville one of the top U.S. cities that is using smart growth and development to successfully attract new companies and residents. Their newly released report, “Amazing Place: Six Cities Using the New Recipe for Economic Development,” examines Nashville and five other cities through the lens of their efforts to create livable communities.
“The city’s music heritage has a spillover effect, and today companies like Warby Parker and tech startups are moving to Nashville to capitalize on the city’s reputation for creative, authentic cool,” the report says. It cites examples of how the Metro Planning Department’s zoning changes helped transform neighborhoods such as the Gulch and downtown by encouraging residential and mixed-use development. The report also praises Metro Government and Chamber initiatives such as Complete Streets, ScaleUp Nashville, Business Studio, NashvilleNext, Partnership 2020 and Leadership Study Mission as cases of successful collaborations that are driving positive community change.
Quality of place is our “secret sauce” – the reason Middle Tennessee has been one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions over the past several years. It’s why we work to make sure our neighborhoods are welcoming, diverse and inclusive – and why we work to keep Nashville desirable while maintaining sustainable growth.
