Category Archives: Uncategorized

We hope you will join us on September 6, 2014 for the 4th Annual Riverbluff Triathlon and Festival beginning at 7:00 am.  The race begins at the Ashland City Riverbluff Park and runs, bikes and swims over several miles of scenic Cheatham County and Cheatham … Continue reading →

We just wrapped up the panel presentation at the Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association (MTIDA) 2014 Annual Economic Development Seminar titled #econdev – Trending Tech Topics in Economic Development.  Great questions and discussions from today’s event.  Whether learning about best practices … Continue reading →

I am just about to speak on a panel at the Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association (MTIDA) 2014 Annual Economic Development Seminar.  Our panel’s topic is #econdev – Trending Tech Topics in Economic Development.  From my experience as a community … Continue reading →

Data from the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics on Annual Average Weekly Wage in 2013 was recently released and the interactive map with data for all counties in the United States was popular on social media last … Continue reading →

For me, it is an early start on a week of intensive ED202 Real Estate Finance classes.  This my next to the last class to complete toward my Economic Development Finance Professional certification from the National Development Council.  A well-trained … Continue reading →

Economic development professionals, business leaders, community leaders and elected officials will be attending the 61st Annual Tennessee Governor’s Conference on Economic & Community Development on November 13th and 14th, 2014 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel just a few miles from … Continue reading →

The Heartland Center lists 20 clues to rural community survival.  Used in their workshops, the list is also handy just to look through and see what we are doing well and what we are working on in our economic and community … Continue reading →

A recent article in The Nashville Ledger reports on some of Cheatham County’s economic development successes in the past year.  Stay tuned, we are a work in progress.  

A “Welcome Home” Parade and  Job Fair for veterans will be held on Saturday, June 14th (that’s Flag Day) in downtown Nashville. Click here for the flyer with more information.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and White House Rural Council Chairman announced a federal initiative called Local Food, Local Places that will provide rural communities with technical support to rural communities to help communities build vibrant local food systems that complement their … Continue reading →

from “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost:     Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. Absolutely, it made a difference, it increased … Continue reading →

I swear it’s just a coincidence, but last week our local airport, Nashville International Airport (BNA), loosened its rules on drinking in the terminal and I joined their Frequent Parker Program.  Nashville International Airport is less than a 30 minute drive from … Continue reading →

Nashville is now firmly entrenched as one of the nation’s Top 25 largest cities, according to The Tennessean newspaper. The city of Nashville increased 5% since 2010 to 634,464 in July 1, 2013, according to U.S. Census population estimates. The … Continue reading →

Things have definitely turned around in the past 1 1/2 years for The Braxton Condominiums in Ashland City, Tennessee.  Those few months have attracted new owners, beautiful updates on the property and a creation of a new neighborhood of residents … Continue reading →

Mark your calendars on June 24-28 for Ashland City’s annual Summerfest 2014 celebration.  Summerfest will be held at Riverbluff park in Ashland City on the bank of the Cumberland River. Summerfest features a family-friendly carnival, lots of good food, arts … Continue reading →

It is Monday of the last full week in March.  Such a beautiful day looking out over the Cumberland River from the Riverview Restaurant here in Ashland City.  I have to go back to the office and get to work.  I … Continue reading →

“Led by the Cheatham County Chamber of Commerce and the Joint Economic and Community Development Board, the Cheatham Vision initiative optimizes public and private resources to improve and showcase the community’s assets. Cheatham Vision involves both people and business by … Continue reading →

I spent last week in class working toward the Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) certification from the National Development Council.  It was nice to have a weekend that the only numbers in my head were basketball scores.

Time magazine in its article “The South’s Red-Hot Town” proclaims Nashville as a red-hot town, “…its economy are on fire, sparked by a booming cultural scene, world-class health care, rising universities–and a really good spot on the map.” I agree. … Continue reading →

Quality of life… we talk about having it, but so does every other community, no matter how disparate.  We try to name our assets and hope that it matches with our target market’s idea of quality in their (or their … Continue reading →

Cheatham County, due to prior preparation, immediately joined as a partner in Tennessee Promise (see article in The Tennessean), Governor Bill Haslam’s initiative to fund the first two years of applied technology training or community college for high school graduates … Continue reading →

Tennessee’s plan to improve its labor force by providing free tuition to community colleges and tech schools gets national attention: http://www.npr.org/2014/02/08/273171722/tennessee-weighs-the-cost-of-a-free-college-education

I gave a short speech at the 2013 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference in Philadelphia in October titled “Economic Development, It’s a Wonderful Life” about how I use the classic holiday movie to tell the story of economic … Continue reading →

Forbes magazine named yesterday the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) 4th on its “Best Buy Cities: Where to Invest in Housing in 2014” list.  Cheatham County shares Nashville/Davidson County’s western border and is part of the MSA.

It’s Christmas Eve and I am watching the holiday classic movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, on TV. I am always impressed by how much George Bailey and the Bailey Bros. Building & Loan Association were involved in economic and community development. From George’s … Continue reading →

Hope he doesn’t quit his day job, but if you are an economic development professional, this song is for you:

The Nashville and Middle Tennessee Long Term Transit Vision (see interactive map) includes more connectivity for Cheatham County. With Express Bus service already in Pleasant View, the vision includes Express Bus service to Kingston Springs and Commuter Rail service with … Continue reading →