Tennessee set a record low for statewide unemployment in May when its seasonally adjusted rate dropped to 3% for the first time. The latest county unemployment data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development showed continued low county unemployment across the state.

All 95 counties had unemployment rates at or below 4.4% in May and only five counties had a jobless number at or above 4%.

Eighty-six counties saw a slight uptick in their rates during May, while three counties recorded lower rates, and unemployment in six counties remained unchanged from April.

Sevier and Williamson counties had the lowest unemployment in the state in May with a rate of 2.1%. Sevier County’s number was unchanged from the previous month, while Williamson County’s rate inched up 0.1%.

Moore County had the next lowest rate at 2.2%, which mirrored its April rate.

Bledsoe County’s number marked the highest rate in the state. At 4.4%, unemployment in the county increased by 0.5% between April and May.

McNairy County had the next highest rate for the month at 4.2%, which was an increase of 0.5 of a percentage point. Both Lauderdale and Scott counties had rates of 4.1%, which amounted to an increase of 0.1% in Lauderdale County and 0.5% in Scott County.

The state and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted to factor in seasonal economic influences such as school breaks and severe weather conditions, while county unemployment rates are not.

10 new state parks add all-terrain wheelchairs

Last week, Tennessee State Parks announced the availability of new all-terrain wheelchairs at 10 state parks, enhancing accessibility for visitors and bringing the total of parks with all-terrain wheelchairs to 22.

The new wheelchairs announced this week are the result of a collaboration between the parks and Sunrise Medical, which designs and manufactures the wheelchairs, and the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging.

New all-terrain wheelchairs announced are at these state parks:

• Cedars of Lebanon State Park

• Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park

• David Crockett State Park

• Fall Creek Falls State Park

• Fort Pillow State Historic Park

• Harrison Bay State Park

• Indian Mountain State Park

• Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park

• Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park

• Sgt. Alvin C. York State Park

“This is an important step for our parks, and we are eager to provide this service,” says Greer Tidwell, deputy commissioner for Conservation at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “We are grateful for the work of Sunrise Medical and our partnership with the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging. Tennessee State Parks are forever and for everyone.”

Raising Cane’s plants flagship on Broadway

Fast-growing restaurant brand Raising Cane’s has raised the stakes for quick-service food on Broadway with their new flagship location.

Located on the corner of Broadway and Third Avenue N. at 212 Broadway in the Baxter Building, the custom-themed restaurant pays homage to country music legends with signature city-inspired flair from local artists and designers such as Hatch Show Print Shop, Ranger Stitch, James Willis and more.

Originally built in 1891 – nearly 60 years before Nashville gained its country music notoriety – the four-story Baxter Building housed some of the city’s most bustling businesses. Now, it’s home to one of Raising Cane’s most anticipated restaurants, which will serve customers on the first and second floor.

In celebration of the city’s rich history, the restaurant boasts a feature wall with a colorful horse-riding cowboy made with an impressive 1.2 million rhinestones; a Johnny and June Cash tribute booth for the perfect Nashville photo-moment; a Loretta Lynn signed sequin top and one of her prized guitars; and exclusive Nashville Cane’s merch.

The Nashville flagship is the latest of its kind to come from Cane’s and opens exactly a year from when the brand first entered New York and opened its global flagship in Times Square, which has since become one of the busiest QSRs in the world. The brand’s other flagships include South Beach, Chicago and Las Vegas, with plans to open more across the country’s most populous and famous destinations.

Goodwill, GM ignite green jobs collaboration

Goodwill and General Motors are expanding their work together to enhance clean energy and skilled trades training programs across the U.S.

As part of this effort, GM will provide grant funding for 10 local Goodwill organizations to invest in workforce training programs for in-demand, entry-level skilled trades jobs, including the new Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator.

Training programs were launched this year in Atlanta, Houston, Nashville and Detroit with a goal to grow to 20 cities and train 7,000 job seekers by 2030.

The collaboration was created to prepare the workforce for the significant clean energy job growth that is predicted to continue to expand in the future. It is expected that electric vehicle infrastructure jobs will increase by more than 800% by 2035. With continued support from Accenture, and with expertise from training partners ChargerHelp, GRID Alternatives and BlocPower, GM is providing a grant that will scale the Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator to more locations.

Trainees are certified for jobs involving solar and storage, electric vehicle charging or heat pumps and energy efficiency. In addition to the four markets mentioned above, GM funding will teach career skills and technical training for a variety of automotive-related skilled trade fields in other areas, including Battle Creek, Michigan; South Bend and Indianapolis, Indiana; St. Paul, Minnesota; Charlotte, North Carolina; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Chicago, Illinois.

TriStar gets approval for Spring Hill hospital

TriStar Health has received approval for a from the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission to build a 68-bed acute care hospital in Spring Hill. The $250 million community hospital will be built on the same site as the existing TriStar Spring Hill ER and will offer intensive Care, labor and delivery and neonatal intensive care units, four operating rooms, cardiac catheterization services and imaging services, including MRI.

The Tennessee Health Facilities Commission approved the Certificate of Need for the project with a 6-2 vote.

Crush Yard ‘eatertainment’ concept set for Brentwood

Crush Yard, the “eatertainment” innovator, recently signed a lease for its third corporate location in the Brentwood Place shopping center a few minutes south of downtown Nashville on I-65, at 300 Franklin Road in Brentwood.

This 33,400 square foot space will feature eight indoor pickleball courts, a gourmet restaurant + full bar, private event space and arcade. Grand opening is anticipated for Q1 2025.

Having been named the “Best Place to Play Pickleball” in Charleston, South Carolina, Crush Yard has been selling out leagues and tournaments since opening its first location in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in September.

With app-driven food & beverage purchases, court reservations, class and tournament registrations, the company’s innovative tech provides maximum convenience. Executive chef Brandon Buck’s “elevated comfort food” has quickly become a Charleston favorite. A self-pour “Beer Island” features 36 varieties on tap and Crush Yard’s full bar will offer cocktails, mocktails, a curated wine selection and a great place to catch up with friends.

The second corporate location, Crush Yard Orlando, near Walt Disney World is under construction with opening planned for Q4 of this year. Those who sign up for memberships pre-opening in Nashville & Orlando lock in lower pricing for their first year. Additionally, Crush Yard’s first members get the opportunity to preview the new facilities before the general public.

ObjectiveHealth, QualDerm partner

ObjectiveHealth, a Nashville-based integrated research and technology platform company, announced it is expanding its partnership with QualDerm Partners, LLC, a Nashville-based dermatology and skin care management services organization, to integrate clinical research as a care option at QualDerm’s 158 skin care and aesthetics practices across 17 states, which serve more than 125,000 patients monthly.

ObjectiveHealth takes an innovative approach to research, partnering with physicians and health care organizations to conduct clinical research programs incorporating advanced, AI-driven diagnostics while aiming to improve patient outcomes at the point of care.

QualDerm Partners has an expansive, quality-driven network of top-tier, board-certified dermatologists who are positioning their practices for sustainable growth and profitability.

The strategic partnership between ObjectiveHealth and QualDerm will advance dermatology research while providing specialized care to patients suffering from dermatologic disorders such as skin cancer, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne and alopecia.

ObjectiveHealth’s proprietary AI-driven technology leverages patient electronic health record data and the provider schedule to quickly identify candidates for specific clinical trials while providing a platform to manage trial workflow more efficiently.

Along with trained research coordinators located in the footprint of partner practices, ObjectiveHealth offers clinical trials as a natural extension of the patient care process, creating centers-of-excellence in community-based specialty practices.

Survey: Americans want manufacturing return

A recent survey conducted by ARC (American Revitalization Company), a leading real estate and business development firm, revealed that more than 80% of Americans consider manufacturing essential to the U.S. economy. This strong sentiment underscores the national desire to see manufacturing operations relocated to or retained on American soil.

The survey results of 1,000 U.S. adults demonstrate a clear consensus among Americans regarding the importance of manufacturing. Notably, 83.4% of respondents believe that the U.S. should bring back most or all of its manufacturing facilities to America. Additionally, 54% expressed concerns about the negative implications of outsourcing manufacturing operations.

Data from the National Association of Manufacturers further bolsters these findings, revealing the sector’s substantial economic contribution. In Q4 2023, manufacturing injected a staggering $2.89 trillion annually into the U.S. economy, with every dollar spent in manufacturing generating a total economic impact of $2.69. As of May 2024, the sector provided employment to nearly 13 million workers.

Interestingly, the survey also pointed out generational differences in attitudes toward manufacturing and trade jobs. Unlike the Baby Boomers and Generation X cohorts, younger demographics are showing increased interest in these fields. Among Gen Z respondents, 83% are open to or likely to consider trade jobs, while 78% of millennials shared the same viewpoint. Specifically, 46% of respondents indicated a preference for manufacturing over other trade jobs.

New Prima tower to offer EVs as amenity

Prima at Paseo South Gulch, a 16-story, 278-unit residential tower, has announced an agreement with Envoy Technologies, leading provider of electric vehicle car-sharing services, to offer residents on-site access to shared EVs. The service branded as ‘Mobility as an Amenity’ aims to enhance convenience and sustainability for Prima’s residents.

Envoy integrates with multitenant communities, offering turnkey EV-sharing and charging stations as a premium amenity. Residents of Prima will access Envoy vehicles through the Envoy mobile app, available on Android and IOS devices, and book them by the hour or day. Additionally, dedicated on-site ground-level charging stations are available for residents and guests to use at no cost.

Prima combines four new mixed-use towers with the adaptive reuse of two classic Nashville buildings in the South Gulch neighborhood. Future phases of Paseo South Gulch will introduce acclaimed local and national restaurants, retail tenants, Class-AA office, a luxury hotel, condos and additional residential offerings.