The Tennessee General Assembly approved more than $400 million in tax cuts for Tennessee families and businesses through the Tennessee Works Tax Act, marking one of the largest tax cuts in Tennessee history and supporting future economic growth.

The legislation includes a three-month grocery tax holiday and an optional paid family leave tax credit for companies to support Tennessee families. It also provides tax relief for Tennessee businesses and increases the state’s economic competitiveness through several changes to Tennessee’s tax laws.

From August through October, Tennesseans will not pay tax on food and food ingredients sold in grocery stores. On average, each Tennessee family will save an estimated $100-plus in taxes. Additionally, local governments will be reimbursed by the state for any tax revenues lost during the period.

The legislation also provides support for families through an optional state paid family leave tax credit for companies that mirrors a similar federal credit. A company offering paid family leave may be eligible for a maximum 50% franchise and excise tax credit.

The legislation provides roughly $150 million in tax cuts for Tennessee businesses through several changes to Tennessee’s franchise and excise tax and business tax. As a result of the legislation, more than 23,000 businesses in the state will have their excise tax liability reduced to zero, as the bill exempts a company’s first $50,000 in net earnings from the excise tax. The legislation also exempts up to $500,000 of business property from franchise tax liability.

Roughly 140,000 Tennessee businesses will no longer have to file business tax, as the legislation raises the threshold for filing to businesses with gross receipts of $100,000 or more per jurisdiction (up from $10,000). Local jurisdictions will be held harmless through an adjustment to the business tax state revenue share.

TDEC announces more water infrastructure funds

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced 102 grants totaling $232,709,981 from the state’s American Rescue Plan fund, part of which TDEC is administering in the form of drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure grants.

Since August, TDEC has awarded and announced $634,404,544 in grant funds through ARP programming.

Of the 102 grants announced, 17 are collaborative grants and 85 are noncollaborative grants. Collaborative grants involve multiple entities (cities, counties or water utilities) partnering on projects to work toward a shared purpose. The awards include funding for 132 individual drinking water, wastewater and/or stormwater infrastructure projects.

Tennessee received $3.725 billion from the ARP, and the state’s Financial Stimulus Accountability Group dedicated $1.35 billion of those funds to TDEC to support water projects in communities throughout Tennessee.

Of the $1.35 billion, about $1 billion was designated for noncompetitive formula-based grants offered to counties and eligible cities to address critical systems needs, including developing asset management plans, addressing noncompliance, updating infrastructure, mitigating water loss for drinking water systems and reducing inflow and infiltration for wastewater systems.

MTSU, Southwest team for pilot recruiting plan

Middle Tennessee State University’s Department of Aerospace joined the Southwest Airlines “Destination 225°” program last month as one of the newest partners in the airline’s unique “First Officer” development and recruitment program.

Destination 225° builds pathways for aspiring pilots from university aviation programs across the country to first officer roles at Southwest Airlines.

On a compass rose, 225° is the southwest heading. The Destination 225° program provides several pathways designed to meet future aviators where they are at their current experience level and create opportunities to take them to the right seat in a Southwest aircraft.

With 900 professional flight majors, MTSU aerospace students will have access to a pathway that leads to becoming competitively qualified for a commercial pilot career at Southwest. The Destination 225° program includes pilot pathways for those just starting to fly, those working on university degrees and those already building time toward their airline transport pilot certifications.

In the aviation industry, a first officer is a commercial airline pilot who works in the cockpit with the captain to assist them with flight navigation and operation. Also known as a co-pilot, they sit in the right seat and are the second in command.

Stewart speaks on medicine’s role in society

Comedian, talk show host and advocate Jon Stewart spoke recently to a crowd of Vanderbilt and Meharry medical students, nursing students, faculty and staff about his approach to advocacy and how those in the medical community can find their own place alongside those supporting a cause. The event was part of the Flexner Deans’ Lecture Series at Vanderbilt University.

“The first thing is to realize that you can’t divorce medicine from society,” Stewart told the audience. “It is all interconnected. Race, gender, class, nutrition, health, education – it’s all medicine. You’re at the hub of all that happens in our society. You’re able to see the intersection of all those things. You’re able to see what poverty does to a person and their health. You’re able to see how class influences the outcomes of different interventions and the injustice of that. You see that, and you’ll be dealing with it.

“You may actually feel yourselves callusing over to it. That’s something that you have to fight. You are a part of systems, and those systems are flawed. And you have to try not to let yourself be captured by the institutional nature of those systems.”

Stewart’s own advocacy became headline news when he pushed Congress for federal funding to provide health monitoring and medical care for survivors, first responders and volunteers exposed to toxic pollutants following the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack.

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 was passed to provide that care. Stewart then fought for the law’s reauthorization in 2015 and testified before the House Judiciary Committee when continued funding for the benefits was threatened in 2019.

Oxenfree to deliver new build-to-rent homes

Core Spaces, a vertically integrated residential real estate developer, owner and operator, has introduced Oxenfree, the brand for the company’s premier Build-to-Rent (“BTR”) platform.

Nashville will be one of the first markets for the new platform, with a 96-home development scheduled for completion in the summer of 2024. Oxenfree’s other debut community will be a 408-home development in Princeton, Texas.

Poised to be one of the largest collections of communities in the BTR category, the purpose-built residences also will be located in other fast-growing markets across the United States, including Denver, Dallas, Austin and Charlotte.

Since 2010, Core has disrupted the student housing sector by marrying high-design and a hospitality-first residential experience in Tier 1 college markets.

Founded on the principles of new (sub)urbanism, Oxenfree communities will feature walkable neighborhoods, shared spaces and integration with the natural landscape.

Core’s design-build approach will create neighborhoods with a varied unit mix to fit the way people want to live. A collection of four home categories will include single-family homes and townhomes with unique architectural designs in three distinct styles: modern farmhouse, warm industrial and contemporary. Oxenfree will offer varying rental price points with an emphasis on both affordable and higher-end units to cater to a mix of residents.

Inaugural Shine Away event coming in June

Hello Sunshine, a part of Candle Media, has announced the launch of Shine Away, a “day celebrating art, literature, entertainment and the women leading it all.”

Taking place June 17 at the JW Marriott Nashville, Shine Away will feature curated programming, bespoke activations and robust digital content. Hello Sunshine founder Reese Witherspoon and AT&T Chief Marketing & Growth Officer Kellyn Smith Kenny will open the event with an in-depth conversation that explores the power of connection.

Alongside Witherspoon, Shine Away will feature access to talent from the Hello Sunshine ecosystem, including The Home Edit’s Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, New York Times Bestselling author of Fair Play Eve Rodsky and special guests. Additional tentpole panels, educational and creative workshops, and surprise performances from special guests will be announced in the coming weeks.

Shine Away is rooted in Hello Sunshine’s mission to uplift female voices and change the narrative through connection. The experiential franchise will offer opportunities for fans to connect with inspiring entrepreneurs, authors, athletes, musicians and each other.

Brilliant Earth opens Nashville showroom

Brilliant Earth Group, Inc., a digital-first jewelry company and global leader in ethically sourced fine jewelry, has announced the opening of its Nashville showroom, the company’s 30th.

The new showroom will welcome appointments and walk-in customers looking to purchase uniquely designed fine jewelry, ethically sourced diamonds and recycled precious metals in a bright and joyous shopping environment.

Brilliant Earth’s Nashville showroom is located on 1114 Pine Street in the Gulch, next to the W Hotel, Nashville.

Cumulus, PickleJar team for new syndicated show

PickleJar, the live entertainment and artist payments platform, and Cumulus Media, an audio-first media company delivering premium content to more than 750 million people every month, have announced a partnership to create the daily country radio program “PickleJar Up All Night.”

Hosted by Patrick Thomas, formerly of the “Big D and Bubba Show,” “PickleJar Up All Night” will feature emerging country artists, top-charting country music and the biggest stories in entertainment news, with exclusive artist interviews and features.

“PickleJar Up All Night” will air across Cumulus Media’s Country stations in 47 U.S. markets, including Nashville, Dallas and Detroit. The show will air live from Cumulus Media’s WKDF-FM studios in Nashville seven nights a week, 11 p.m.-4 a.m. CST. It premieres Friday.

The show will host in-market events, including concert series in partnership with local venues to showcase new music from all corners of the country. Listeners will be able to interact with Thomas and show guests, participate in contest giveaways and support local charitable causes through the PickleJar Live app.