Why You Should Build Your Business in the Nashville Region
Nashville's diverse and thriving economy makes the region the perfect fit for big companies and startups.
A low unemployment rate, a supportive business climate and multiple higher education pipelines generating qualified employees are just a few reasons Middle Tennessee is booming.
These assets are why large employers continue to expand and relocate to the growing Nashville region — not to mention the benefit they have on entrepreneurs and skilled professionals looking for the right place to start or take their business/career to the next level.
All Sizes
The diversity of its thriving business community is one sure sign of the Nashville region’s strength as a place to run a company or find the perfect career opportunity. There are more than 53,000 businesses here, including such large and well-known enterprises as Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nissan North America and HCA Healthcare.
They are joined by hundreds of small businesses, which make up around 60% of Nashville’s overall business footprint.
Many of these businesses started thanks to incubators and other launchpads operated by organizations such as the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Nashville Entrepreneur Center and the Tennessee State University Business Incubation Center.
Educational Opportunities
Finding the right employees, especially those just starting out, can be a challenge for any size company, but not in the Nashville area. This region is home to a thriving community of public and private two- and four-year colleges and universities, filling the talent pool with skilled graduates daily.
Among them are Fisk University, a historically Black college or university (HBCU) home to the internationally renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers, and Meharry Medical College, a top producer of Black Ph.D. graduates in biomedical sciences in the country.
Those highly visible learning centers are joined by standout higher education institutions, including Belmont University, Lipscomb University, Tennessee State University (another HBCU), Middle Tennessee State University, Austin Peay State University, Vanderbilt University and a growing network of community and technical colleges across the region.
Emerging Tech Hub
The last two years saw an enormous uptick in remote work, and Nashville’s significant employers have continued to make that an option for their growing workforce.
Employers such as Parallon continue to grow their remote ranks. Many people are moving to Nashville because of the high quality of life and their ability to easily connect to their workplace, thanks to reliable internet and other infrastructure.
That combination of accessibility and lifestyle means companies and their employees can thrive in Nashville and enjoy a superb quality of life, says Jane Allen, CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.
PULL QUOTE: “Nashville is a great place to live. Its culture is creative, energetic and collaborative.” – Jane Allen, CEO Nashville Entrepreneur Center
“We are seeing growth in music, sports and entertainment, education, logistics and supply chain operators, hospital, construction and real estate, and Web3 and blockchain-enabled businesses,” Allen says. “Nashville is a great place to live. Its culture is creative, energetic and collaborative. Even with inflation, it’s still more affordable than other big cities. The entrepreneurial ecosystem here is relatively well-connected and easy to navigate. And Nashville is growing, especially with an influx of tech companies and venture/angel investors.”
The work done by the Greater Nashville Tech Council, alongside her organization and other tech boosters, is essential to keep that momentum going, Allen adds.
“These organizations help create, champion and support vibrant, successful communities,” she says. “Busy leaders in startups and tech companies need easy ways to connect to the right people and opportunities to grow their businesses and become part of the Nashville community. The motivation here to help each other to drive the community forward is unique and powerful. People can get meetings and connections in Nashville relatively quickly that they would almost never get in most other ecosystems, as long as they are also interested in building an even better future for Nashville.”
If you’d like to learn more about the Greater Nashville region, check out the latest edition of the Nashville Economic Profile.
