Check Out the Latest Happenings in Tennessee

Icelandair

Here’s a look at some of the exciting things happening around Tennessee:

Fly from Nashville to Iceland

In 2025, Icelandair launched nonstop service from Nashville International Airport (BNA) to Keflavík, Iceland, marking the addition of another country to BNA’s growing list of international flights. 

Icelandair provides the seven-hour trip four times each week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays during the months of May through October. Service will then resume in late March 2026. Passengers fly aboard a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that has the capacity for 160 people. 

As for the destination, Keflavík is a popular seaport town of over 20,000 residents and situated on Iceland’s Atlantic Ocean coastline, only 30 minutes from the country’s capital city of Reykjavik. Keflavík, which in English means “driftwood bay,” offers a variety of nearby attractions. Visitors can relax at the Blue Lagoon and explore the Viking World museum. It’s also a great starting point for touring the country’s epic natural attractions, including glaciers, volcanoes and thousands of waterfalls – as well as the northern lights from fall through spring. 

“We welcome Icelandair to BNA and bridge the gap between Music City and the Land of Fire and Ice,” says Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, in a press release. “This new route not only enhances our international connectivity but also provides a new gateway to Europe.” 

Coming Soon: Go Below Before Flying High

Tennessee is partnering with The Boring Co. to construct an underground tunnel transit system in downtown Nashville called the Music City Loop. The loop will be a 10-mile high-speed underground roadway that will use Tesla electric vehicles to transport passengers between Music City Center and Nashville International Airport. 

The Boring Co., which is based in Texas, was founded by Elon Musk in 2017. Underground transportation projects already completed by The Boring Co. include a test tunnel in Los Angeles County, the 1.7-mile Las Vegas Convention Center Loop and the Resorts World Las Vegas roadway that has plans to expand. 

The Music City Loop will be fully funded by The Boring Co., with no cost to Tennessee taxpayers. The loop is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027, and the tunnel will be built under state-owned roadways in Nashville, such as Interstates 40 and 440. Once completed, a round trip will take about eight minutes. 

“This project represents an innovative, forward-looking solution to one of our region’s most persistent mobility challenges,” says Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Stephanie Coleman in a press release. “The Music City Loop has the potential to enhance connectivity, ease congestion and advance new models for public-private infrastructure investment.” 

Tennessee Draws Global Investments

Tennessee’s business climate continues to attract attention beyond U.S. borders. More than 1,000 foreign-based businesses now operate in the state, accounting for more than $49 billion in capital investment and employing more than 160,000 Tennesseans. 

The appeal comes down to fundamentals: Tennessee’s central location puts companies within a day’s drive of much of the U.S. market. Add in a skilled workforce, no personal income tax and strong transportation infrastructure, and the state offers international investors a solid foundation for growth. 

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development supports those efforts with international offices in Japan, South Korea, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

Recent announcements highlight the diversity of Tennessee’s global partnerships: 

• Canada: Vibrant Health Products will invest $48.5 million and create 394 jobs over five years in Fayette County. The company is opening in the former Kellogg’s Eggo facility, which closed in 2024, showing how Tennessee can attract new investment through strategic site reuse. 
• South Korea: Hyosung HICO, a subsidiary of Hyosung Heavy Industries, is investing $157 million to expand its U.S. manufacturing headquarters in Shelby County. This marks the company’s second expansion in just six months. 
• Taiwan: Xxentria Technology is investing $45 million to establish its first U.S. metal composite production facility in Mount Pleasant. The project, located at Cherry Glen Industrial Park – a Select Tennessee Certified Site – will create 85 jobs. 
• Japan: Hitachi Energy is expanding in Alamo with a $97 million project that adds 100 jobs. Meanwhile, Advanex Americas is growing its U.S. headquarters in White House with an $11.4 million investment and 56 new jobs. Japan is Tennessee’s top partner for foreign direct investment, with more than 200 Japanese companies across the state that account for more than 57,000 jobs and $20 billion in capital investment. 
• Germany: MAHLE GmbH is expanding its Morristown operations with a $10 million-plus investment, creating nearly 50 additional jobs and bringing the company’s total Hamblen County workforce to nearly 800 people. The expansion enables the production of electric compressors for fuel-cell electric and hybrid vehicles. 
• Italy: Microtex Composites is locating its first U.S. operations in Chattanooga, investing nearly $3.8 million and creating 26 new jobs. 

These projects demonstrate Tennessee’s ability to attract companies from around the world and across industries. For international firms, the state offers more than a foothold in the U.S. market; it provides a partner for long-term growth and innovation. 

Courtesy of Whiskey Alley/Julie Archer

Destination Spotlight: Columbia

Columbia has quickly become a destination for entrepreneurs and creatives. Many folks are retreating from the bustle of larger cities for a community that’s more welcoming and inspiring. 

The Arts District, with open-mic nights for local songwriters, reflects the city’s growing creative energy, while a surge of new businesses highlights its entrepreneurial spirit. 

Thanks to its blend of opportunity, hospitality and charm, Columbia is fast becoming a place where newcomers can put down roots and thrive. Public Square itself has become a lively hub, with enough options to spend an entire day eating, exploring and connecting. It’s a place to gather with friends or even make new ones, underscoring the communal spirit that defines Columbia and its residents. 

In April 2020, Brandt Archer and wife, Julia, relocated from Houston to Columbia, where Julia’s father, Ralph Terry, was living. While they fell in love with the area and the ever-present Southern hospitality, they missed the robust food community they experienced in Houston. Inspired by Terry’s love of classic Western saloons, the family set out to create something new. 

In November 2024, they opened Whiskey Alley Saloon, a 21st-century take on the old Western saloon that blends earthy, rugged charm with Southern flair. “We wanted to make our own favorite place,” Archer says. “And I think we accomplished that.” 

Executive Chef Damien Boggs has developed a menu that’s casual yet refined, focused on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and hearty meals that satisfy guests’ appetites while never feeling too full. 

The menu draws on Mediterranean flavors with a distinctly Southern twist, a concept that remains its foundation even as offerings shift with the seasons and availability. Sourcing is deeply personal. Boggs works directly with farmers to secure the highest quality ingredients and foster lasting relationships with partners across the region. 

While the team prioritizes Tennessee producers, they also look to neighboring Kentucky, sourcing lamb from Freedom Run Farm and beef from Black Hawk Farms. 

For an older historic community, Columbia has managed to grow responsibly while maintaining its small-town character. That’s especially evident in the food scene, which has flourished over the past five years and continues to expand. 

“The nightlife in general is expanding. There are more places to go, so you can hop around more,” Archer says. 

– Ric Gross, Kevin Litwin and Kate Robertson contributed to this article.