NASHVILLE – Mayor Freddie O’Connell today announced legislation to establish a new Legacy Business Program, create a Workforce Advancement Incentive Program, and expand Metro’s existing Property Investment Incentive Program—all designed to help Nashville’s small businesses grow, invest, and thrive. Announced in his State of Metro address, these initiatives build on the O’Connell Administration’s commitment to strengthen quality of life for residents, make Nashville more affordable, and support the local businesses that shape the city’s culture and economy. “Small and legacy businesses are the backbone of our communities,” said Mayor Freddie O’Connell. “They’re places of friendship and fellowship. They make us feel like we belong here. They’ve helped build a Nashville for Nashvillians, and they should have the…
Author: City of Nashville
NASHVILLE — Choose How You Move (CHYM) has announced a $100 million capital investment package, advancing projects that improve safety, modernize traffic operations, expand transit, and strengthen Nashville’s transportation network. The package includes new investments as well as continued progress on voter-approved initiatives, including the Nolensville Pike and Gallatin Pike All-Access Corridors. This announcement builds on the program’s October 2025 funding package, which committed $104 million to transportation improvements across Nashville. These projects expand sidewalks and Complete Streets, modernize traffic signal technology, strengthen transit infrastructure and service, and move major corridors forward. “Across Nashville, Choose How You Move is turning plans into projects people…
NASHVILLE, TN – The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) is announcing next steps on the Gallatin Pike and Main Street Safety Project. The Gallatin Pike Corridor is on Nashville’s Vision Zero Action Plan’s High Injury Network and has been identified as one of the city’s most dangerous roads. NDOT began engaging residents along the corridor in 2023 to identify critical traffic safety needs for people walking, biking, accessing transit, and driving. After evaluating community feedback received earlier this year, NDOT is finalizing designs for near-term safety upgrades completed as part of an upcoming resurfacing project along the corridor. The project…
NASHVILLE, TENN. — Earlier this month, Vice Mayor Henderson hosted 26 college and high school students participating in the Metropolitan Action Commission’s (MAC) POWER Youth Summer Employment Program in the David Scobey Council Chamber at the Historic Courthouse & City Hall. The POWER (Providing Opportunities for Wealth-building and Economic Resilience) Youth program provides exploration and work experience activities for youth ages 14 to 24. “The visit with Vice Mayor Henderson gave our POWER Youth summer interns a meaningful glimpse into the history of Nashville and the important role the Metro Council plays in shaping our city,” said Tanya Evrenson, Director,…
NASHVILLE, TN – July 27, 2026: Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Office filed legislation on Friday for consideration at the next Metro Council meeting. Here’s a look at six measures worth watching: SOLAR ENERGY LEASE & BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE PILOT One line: Lease amendment with Music City Solar adds 10 years and pilots a battery energy storage system to capture and store solar energy. Why it matters: The successful community solar project on the site of a former landfill near the interchange of I-65 and Briley Parkway has generated over 2 million kilowatt hours of solar power since its founding. By storing solar energy in rechargeable batteries, that power will help balance the city’s energy supply, reduce peak usage levels and their frequency, and offer a backup power source in times of critical need. What’s…
Mayor Freddie O’Connell announced in conjunction with The Conservation Fund that the city is acquiring 300 acres of forestland that will expand Alvin G. Beaman Park and permanently protect one of Nashville’s most significant natural landscapes. The Conservation Fund acquired the property and will temporarily hold it before transferring it to Metro Nashville Parks for permanent public ownership and management. “A forest is not scenery. A forest is infrastructure. It cools our summers. It slows our floodwater. It filters our streams. It cleans the air we breathe — and it reduces the illnesses that come when that air goes bad,”…
The Metro Public Health Department’s Pest Management Team has reported the presence of West Nile Virus in a mosquito pool collected in North Nashville. The trap to collect the mosquito pool had been set near Cass Street. This is the first detection of West Nile Virus of 2026, following a high level of West Nile Virus in mosquito pools collected in 2025. One human case of West Nile Virus was confirmed in 2025. “We can all play a role in reducing the presence of mosquitos in our community, making our outdoor areas both more pleasant and safer from mosquito-borne diseases…
NASHVILLE, TN – Mayor Freddie O’Connell has directed the Metro Department of Law to file a new lawsuit against the State of Tennessee over a second attempt to take over control of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board (MNAA). Today, the MNAA Board voted to join the litigation. Following the 2023 passage of legislation that attempted to seat a new state controlled MNAA Board, Metro sued to stop the takeover and won a summary judgement which was then unanimously upheld by a three-judge panel of the Tennessee Court of Appeals (see attached timeline). That case is currently before the Tennessee Supreme Court. In 2026, following the two defeats in court, the state passed new legislation that gives the state authority over the Metro Nashville Airport Authority and four…
NASHVILLE, TENN.– The Metropolitan Council will hold public hearings for the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Ordinance, Tax Levy, and Capital Improvement Budget during its meeting on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The Council previously offered a Pre-Budget Public Comment Period during the February 3 Council meeting. The Budget & Finance Committee, chaired by Councilwoman Kyonzté Toombs, has completed twenty departmental hearings in concert with associated committee chairs. After three initial Budget & Finance Committee work sessions this week, the next sessions will be held Wednesday, June 5 and Thursday, June 6 at 4:00 p.m. (Additional sessions will be on June 9…
Chief John Drake today announced the MNPD will launch a Drone as First Responder (DFR) limited trial program on Tuesday, May 26, through which three drones based on the roof of the Madison Precinct will be available to respond within a two-mile radius of the precinct building to emergency calls for service, calls regarding active criminal investigations, missing person calls and significant traffic crashes. The drones will be controlled by four FAA-certified police officers from the Community Safety Center at police headquarters. They have received specialized training in drone operations. Drone as First Responder Programs have proven effective in cities…