Writer: Joshua Andino
2 min read December 2022 — With a new year only a few weeks away, public and private sector leaders have their sights set on the future. Invest: spoke with a number of these leaders across Middle Tennessee to collect their insights on both their outlook and priorities for the near term.
Bradley Jackson, President & CEO, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Tennessee Manufacturers Association
What is your outlook for the next two to five years?
We are not taking our foot off the pedal when it comes to our economy and making sure it is one of the strongest in the nation. I foresee a number of continued workforce development initiatives, more improvements to the state tax structure and thinking through other issues that impact businesses, such as affordable childcare, education, transportation infrastructure and housing.
Overall, Tennessee is experiencing growth that is heralded across the nation and that will continue. We are focused on responsible economic growth that can enhance the lives of all residents. We are extremely proud of the work we have put in to manage the state and we will work to always continue it.
Clifton Harris, President and CEO, Urban League of Middle Tennessee
What is your outlook for the next two to three years and how is that shaping the priorities of the Urban League moving forward?
The next few years will be about improving workforce development. We have to make sure people have access to economic development opportunities, and that individuals aren’t locked out of any industries, and have avenues to capital. We cannot continue to talk about sustainable growth and not talk about the distribution of it. We have to prepare our children for opportunities as much as we are for adults. FedEx is looking to hire 1,000 pilots who could make $800 an hour. Kids don’t know that so we need to teach them. We need to tell people what they don’t know so we can help them move forward on the generational wealth spectrum.
Evette White, Executive Director, Leadership Nashville
What is your outlook for the next few years?
Based on conversations with alumni leaders in Nashville, we will have another whole “downtown” on the other side of the river. We have the most incredible opportunity in Nashville because we are a river city that is not fully embracing the river. When we were able to get an NFL team here, we were lucky to have a stadium. The city and the NFL team, the Titans, are working together to develop an improved stadium campus on our East Bank that is more integrated into the local environment, where locals want to spend their time. The future of Nashville is beyond what we have even imagined. I deeply believe that we are not going to slow down anytime soon.
Our founders’ visions are very much alive today. I am only the third executive director in 46 years and my predecessors were amazingly strong leaders who made this work for a long time. The Trustees and I continue to sustain and advance that original vision and mission while innovating where possible to keep up with Nashville’s growth.
Charles Starks, President & CEO, Music City Center
Looking into 2023 and beyond, do you feel the region can sustain this growth, or will it taper off?
With where the economy is today and interest rates on the rise, it might taper off. If I had to rate this on a scale of one to five with one being about it coming to a complete stop and five being never going to stop, we are at a four. I’m bullish that we’re going to continue to move forward, but not at the same pace, and it might slow down a bit. As a native Nashvillian, there is no doubt that we need workforce housing, so the housing developments coming up, retail segments thriving and office buildings under construction are not something all cities have right now. So in terms of growth, I put it at a four out of five, because we have a lot of ongoing and upcoming projects, looking at the numbers that STR’s putting out on hotels you’ll find Nashville circled. We are outperforming almost every market in the country right now. That’s why I put it at a four, however, I do think the slowing economy keeps us from being a five.
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