Nicknamed "Music City" for its rich musical heritage and "Athens of the South" for the city's dedication to fine arts and higher education, Nashville provides residents with a diverse cultural wellspring amid homespun Southern roots. Nashville was recently ranked #3 on Kiplinger’s "Top 10 Best Value Cities for 2011", a ranking that focuses on metro areas with nurturing business environments, reasonable costs of living, and excellent quality of life. Nashville's beautiful cityscape coupled with the lush terrain of the region and close proximity to other major metro areas make it an ideal place to live and work.
As the nation's health care industry capital and the home of numerous international companies, Nashville is a dynamic business center. The community's enthusiastic support of professional football and hockey teams and the influx of major corporate headquarter relocations into the region have also created significant momentum for the workforce. Forbes rated Nashville #3 in the "Next Big Boom Town for 2011" and the #6 "Best Place for Business and Career." Additionally the U.S. Chamber of Congress rated Tennessee the #1 "State Most Friendly to Business" in 2011.
The city has grown substantially in recent years, drawing people from all over the world, a fact that’s reflected in its diverse cultural activities, cuisine, and arts organizations. The city's cultural attractions include the Frist Center for the Visual Arts; the Country Music Hall of Fame; the newly-opened world-class Schermerhorn Symphony Hall; the world's only full-scale reproduction of the famous Greek temple, the Parthenon; and much more. Nashville is also building a new convention center downtown that will allow the city to continue to host businesses from all over the country. The city blends its Southern history with the burgeoning international culture, legendary music scene, outstanding academics, professional sports, natural beauty, and booming business that place Nashville on the cutting edge.
What you may not know about Nashville:
- Nashville ranked #3, Kiplinger’s "Top 10 Best Value Cities for 2011."
- Nashville ranked #3, Forbes "Next Big Boom Town for 2011."
- Nashville ranked #6, Forbes "Best Place for Business and Career," 2011.
- Tennessee ranked #1, U.S. Chamber of Congress' "State Most Friendly to Business," 2011.
- In 2012 Nashville was ranked #4 in economic strength by Policom, a company in Palm City, FL, that examines local economies and economic development.
- In 2006 Nissan North America moved its corporate headquarter to Franklin, southwest of Nashville, and opened Nissan’s largest North American manufacturing plant in Smyrna, TN. As a result of the increased development of Nissan, Japan moved its New Orleans consulate-general to Nashville’s Palmer Plaza.