The 35 project ideas generated by Nashville/Davidson County’s participatory budgeting program that will be eligible for consideration when voting begins were unveiled last week.

The committee of budget delegates collectively identified 35 potential projects from the 1,321 ideas submitted by Davidson County residents for inclusion on the ballot for this cycle. One project suggestion was included from each of the 35 council districts across the city.

The budget delegates considered total project cost, implementation timeline and the “impacted areas score” from the Social Vulnerability Index, among other considerations, when making their recommendations. Many of the selected projects seek to improve local parks and pedestrian safety, while others propose improvements to library services and even historic preservation efforts across the city.

“With more than 1,300 ideas submitted, the budget delegates had a demanding task to identify the 35 that were the best for inclusion on the ballot,” says Mayor John Cooper. “It is very encouraging to see so much interest in Participatory Budgeting and I expect we will see some great results once voting begins.”

With the ballot now finalized, voting will open Oct. 1 and close Nov. 30. All Davidson County residents 14 years and older are eligible to vote. Residents can vote online, in-person at any branch of the Nashville Public Library or by mail. Paper ballots can be picked up from any library branch beginning Oct. 1. Each resident may vote for as many as five (5) projects. For more information or to view a sample ballot, visit pb.nashville.gov.

Report: 2022 tourism brought $29B to state

Tennessee tourism generated $29 billion in direct visitor spending and saw 141 million visitors to the state in 2022, according to newly released data from Tourism Economics.

The final report is good news for the state, showcasing numbers even higher than the preliminary report revealed in May 2022, which already showed the state at historic highs. All 95 counties saw an increase in visitor spending in 2022 and 63 counties outpaced inflation.

“Tourism drives a strong economy, creates jobs and builds a better quality of life for all Tennesseans,” Gov. Bill Lee says. “We continue to welcome visitors to see all Tennessee has to offer, from the Mississippi River to the Great Smoky Mountains.”

Several key highlights from the report include:

• Tourism generated $28.9 billion in direct visitor spending in 2022, up 19% from 2021.

• International visitation is quickly returning, as spending reached $670 million, a 278% increase from 2021 and near pre-pandemic levels (72% recovered to 2019).

• Travelers in Tennessee spend an estimated $79 million per day.

• Visitor spending generated $2.9 billion in state and local tax revenue. Without tourism, each Tennessee household would have to pay an additional $1,100 in taxes each year.

• Tennessee ranks 11th in the nation for travel spending, the highest rank ever and the fastest-growing state in the top 40 since 2018.

Locally, Nashville visitor spending increased 35% year-over-year, and Davidson Co. and the six contiguous counties (Cheatham, Robertson, Sumner, Wilson, Rutherford, Williamson) saw a 19.5% year-over-year increase in visitor spending.

State unemployment rate stays steady at 3.1%

Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate for August remained at the state’s all-time low seasonally adjusted rate of 3.1%, according to new data released by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The state reached its lowest unemployment rate in July, besting the previous record of 3.2%.

The new jobless number was 0.2 of a percentage point lower than the state’s rate from Aug. 2022. Unemployment numbers for the state have been at or below 3.5% since Jan. 2022.

Data shows nonfarm employment decreased by 3,200 positions between July and August. The mining, logging, and construction sector saw the biggest drop in jobs. The professional and business services sector experienced the next biggest decline, followed by the information sector.

The year-to-year statistics show Tennessee employers added 57,900 new positions to their payrolls. The education and health services sector recorded the largest gains over the last 12 months.

LG, Titans team again for ‘Taste of Tennessee’

LG Electronics USA, Inc., and the Tennessee Titans announced the return of their partnership-led original content series, “Taste of Tennessee,” for a new season that celebrates the power of community, cuisine and optimism throughout the Volunteer State.

Season 2, which debuted Sept. 17, tells the stories of four Tennessee-based restaurateurs and chefs generating positivity through the power of food in their communities of Nashville, Memphis, Maryville and surrounding areas.

The new season will be available to stream on demand through LG Channels – LG’s free streaming service on LG Smart TVs – and through ad-supported viewing on Hungry across multiple platforms, including LG Channels.

Local barbecue expert and author Matt Moore returns as host for “Taste of Tennessee” season 2 as he travels the state showcasing the flavors and inspirations behind some of Tennessee’s best culinary experiences.

• Episode 1: Against the backdrop of Nashville’s Juniper Green and featuring founder Molly Martin, episode 1 gathers all season 2 chefs and guests to showcase what makes Tennessee cuisine unique and what inspirations, both local and global, shape it.

• Episode 2: Showcasing Nashville-based Otaku Ramen and owner Sarah Gavigan, episode 2 dives into the cross-cultural food connections that can bind multiple communities together. Former Titans Keith Bulluck and coach Dave “Coach Mac” McGinnis join to offer their perspectives.

• Episode 3: Centered on Memphis-based Plant Based Heat and owner Ralph “RJ Groove” Johnson, episode 3 explores the connection between family, community and health. Includes cameo appearances from Titans alum Jevon Kearse and CEO of Roar Nashville, Marcia Musalla.

• Episode 4: Closing out season 2, episode 4 showcases East Tennessee-homed RT Lodge and executive chef Trevor Stockton who specializes in region-inspired dishes and working with locally sourced ingredients. Features Mike Keith, the voice of the Titans, and Titans alum Dr. Kevin Dyson.

OGA breaks ground on new TOA facility

Oman-Gibson Associates, a full-service health care real estate firm based in Nashville, recently broke ground on an orthopedic office building complex for Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance in Clarksville.

The new 27,750-square-foot medical office building will be located on a 6.81-acre site off I-24 Exit 11 at 1000 S. Gateway Boulevard and is a relocation of the physician group’s Clarksville offices, currently located at 141 Hillcrest Drive in Clarksville.

In addition to physician office space, the new facility will feature an even more robust catalog of orthopedic services, including urgent care, advanced imaging, a larger physical therapy facility, and a sports performance facility that includes an outdoor artificial turf area. The new facility is expected to be completed by late 2024.

“The Clarksville community is growing quickly, and TOA’s new state-of-the-art facility, with enhanced clinic, physical therapy, imaging services, and specialized orthopedic urgent care, will meet that need,” says Rob Simmons, chief executive officer of TOA.

“The new Clarksville complex exemplifies our commitment to providing cutting-edge medical spaces that cater to the evolving needs of both providers and patients, and we look forward to realizing this vision with TOA,” says Bond Oman, OGA chief executive officer.

OGA has completed multiple developments for TOA, the most recent being a 55,000-square-foot orthopedic medical office building and ambulatory surgery center in Murfreesboro.

Currently, OGA has 225,000 square feet of medical real estate under development in the Nashville MSA and more than 500,000 square feet in current projects and deals in progress around the country.

Stites & Harbison atop trademark firm list

The Trademark Lawyer Magazine has named Stites & Harbison to the 2023 Top 10 Trademark Firms and IP Practices in North America – South list. This is the firm’s first year being honored.

The editorial and research staff at The Trademark Lawyer Magazine reviews law firms by country and jurisdiction based on a variety of criteria for the Top 10 lists.

Examples of research criteria include recent legal achievements, recognition by third party rankings and honor directories, client testimonials, regular articles or presentations on timely topics and active participation in intellectual property organizations.

The Trademark Lawyer Magazine is one of the core platforms of CTC Legal Media founded in 2012. The magazine is a key media partner for many IP associations and conference providers, such as International Trademark Association, Intellectual Property Owners Association, European Communities Trade Mark Association, and more.

Music City Center upgrades EV chargers

Music City Center now offers more electric vehicle charging stations in its parking garage through a new partnership with ChargePoint, the world’s leading EV charging network.

The new ChargePoint units replace old units that were initially installed in July 2016. Previously, there were only nine stations. With the upgrade, three new stations have been added, for a total of 12.

“Our garage serves not only our guests but also visitors to the downtown area, and we are so fortunate to be able to offer this amenity to them,” says Charles Starks, Music City Center president and chief executive officer.

The system upgrade includes a nationwide network for electronic fueling with cloud-based software and services, a mobile app, and driver support. Through ChargePoint, drivers have saved more than 280 million gallons of gas and avoided more than 1.4 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions since 2007.

“It’s important that we stay current with the latest technology and innovation to meet the needs of our customers,” Starks says. “More importantly, this furthers our ongoing commitment to sustainability.”

The facility’s three-level parking garage is the largest covered garage in downtown Nashville. Open daily to the public, the garage boasts 1,800 spaces with 24-hour roving security, an automated parking guidance system, and a fully automated payment system.

There are four designated spaces for EV charging on each level of the garage. Customers must have a ChargePoint account. Standard parking rates apply.