In the News April 2012
Kenneth Bargers, REALTOR®
a proud member of Pilkerton Realtors
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Greater Nashville Area Live! Work! Play!
Business is Good: Nashville Leads Nation in Economic Recovery
By Janet Miller, Chief Economic Development Officer
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
REALTORS® are the front line sales force not just for the real estate community in Nashville, but for the city itself. That is an amazing responsibility and opportunity – one that we at the Chamber have great appreciation for, and great desire to support. So I wanted to share some of the recent economic news coming out about Nashville, to reinforce the Chamber’s new marketing campaign that in Nashville, Business Is Good:
First up - economic recovery. Recently released data from the Brookings Institute names the Nashville metro area among the top 20 strongest economies in America in terms of overall economic recovery. For the study, Brookings examined growth, jobs and housing prices in the nation's 100 largest metros, compared to the trough of the recession. Middle Tennessee's diverse economy and high levels of entrepreneurship are two key factors that have driven this positive economic surge.
Second - job growth. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks, Nashville's job growth in the top five in the nation last year. The analysis covers the 51 U.S. metros with populations of one million or more and covers the year 2010-2011, the latest period for which full data are available.
Third - wage growth. Davidson County's wage growth has recently been named among the best in the country by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Average wages in Nashville grew by 4.42 percent between 2009 and 2010, the last year for which official figures are available. Davidson County wages grew from an average of $46,595 in 2009 to $48,654 in 2010. According to the data, that growth percentage was the seventh best out of America’s 64 major counties, defined by those in which the total compensation for employees totaled at least $25 billion in 2010.
And the list goes on and on. For a list of all the national rankings and accolades that the ten-county region has recently received, go to www.nashvillechamber, comand enter keyword search ‘rankings’. We are all so fortunate that Middle Tennessee’s economy is diverse, resilient, and stacked with strong public and private leaders. Through the Chamber’s Partnership 2020 economic development initiative, with great business leadership, and with a well-armed sales force of capable Realtors selling this fantastic place every day, 2012 should continue to be a great year for Nashville and the Middle Tennessee region. Business is good!
Janet Miller, Chief Economic Officer
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
(615) 743-3000 office | JMiller@NashvilleChamber.com email
211 Commerce Street | Nashville TN 37201
Life is Good: Discover and Explore
the Greater Nashville Area
By Kenneth Bargers, REALTOR® | Pilkerton Realtors
The Greater Nashville area continues as one of the nation’s top destinations to Live, Work and Play but have you explored beyond the reputation of Music City, USA and the Athens of the South?
Each year the Greater Nashville area earns numerous top-tier national rankings for our strengths in business investment, quality of living, education, entrepreneurship, entertainment and diversity of population. The recognition of our communities' existing features and future (such as the Nashville Music City Center and Dollywood Water & Snow Park) potential provides an impressive list yet there are hidden gems beyond the rankings.
THINGS TO DO
Make it a goal this year to be a tourist! Have you ever been a tourist in your own community? This is a great way to understand why people come from all over the world to the Greater Nashville area. Beyond the music, nightlife, museums, historic mansions and hallowed buildings and sites, unique structures such as the Parthenon and Batman Building, consider enjoying some laughs and take the hilarious NashTrash Tour.
Discover and explore the many parks and greenways of Greater Nashville. The list is extensive but a few enjoyable walks to mention are Radnor Lake, Percy Warner, Ellington Agriculture Center, Montgomery Bell and Beaman Park.
Did you know that Nashville has a growing reputation for award-winning chefs and restaurants? Also try the unsung local flavors of hot chicken, meat-and-three, barbeque, deep-fried turkey and neighborhood restaurants. A great resource for the Nashville area cuisine can be found using the search at Yelp.
Enjoy a special event or festival! There is always something going on year-round. Have you ever been to Steeplechase, Tomato Art Festival, Fourth of July Celebration (a perennial top 10 ranking), Jack Daniel’s Barbeque Contest, Bell Buckle’s RC & Moon Pie Festival, Country Music Marathon, Music City BBQ Festival, Hot Chicken Festival, a Beer or Wine Festival, Miss Martha's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Crankin, Oktoberfest - just to name a few of many worthwhile events?
Have you ever visited a neighborhood farmers market, Arrington Vineyards, taken a drive or bike ride on the Natchez Trace Parkway and view the architectural winning bridge, Miss Mary Bobo’s in Lynchburg for lunch, the scenic beauty of small towns such as Leipers Fork of Franklin and Sewanee on Monteagle, walked historic Fisk University, went antique shopping in Franklin and Nolensville, took a drive to Center Hill Lake and stopped by the Inn at Evins Mill, revitalized Five Points of East Nashville, the monthly flea market, walked in to look at the amazing renovation of Union Station, or even taken a drive up on Love Circle?
Support the community through attending the Nashville Ballet, enjoy the music at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Tennessee Titan’s football game, Nashville Predators hockey game, Nashville Sounds baseball game, relax at one of the many music venues, Nashville Adventure Science Center, enjoy a relaxing concert in the park, Nashville Zoo, visit our cultural centers with exhibits year round at the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, Tennessee State Museum, Parthenon, Frist Center for the Visual Arts to name a few.
This article includes just a few suggestions of the many features offered. I encourage each of you to occasionally leave your daily routine and go explore why the Greater Nashville area is the destination to Live, Work and Play!
Where do I go from here? We all know a REALTOR® or real estate agent but did you know that seasoned REALTORS® are an excellent source for area, community and neighborhood information? You depend and trust your agent to protect your interests during the real estate process in buying and selling a home, but also consider them a great information source for the features generally not advertised; as many become familiar wth the hidden gems during their travels and research of the area. Make it a goal to discover and explore all that is Nashville - Life is Good!
