Why young professionals love Nashville
In November 2018, Amazon made a surprise announcement; they will open an Operations Center of Excellence in Nashville, bringing 5,000 jobs to the area.
The online retail giant had its pick of cities in which to locate, so Nashville must be doing something right to be chosen as the home for its new one million square foot office space.
Of course the millions of dollars in incentives from both the city and the state had a tremendous impact on Amazon’s decision to do business in Nashville, but insiders say Amazon executives liked the vibe of our city, too.
That same vibe is credited for attracting so many young professionals to the Nashville area. Compared to other young professional hot spots, Nashville offers a perfect blend of job availability, affordability, good wages, great location and, of course, recreation and entertainment opportunities.
“Nashville is an awesome town,” says Eventbrite’s national sales director Erin Tomlinson in an interview with livability.com. “There’s still a small-town feel even though it has all the benefits of a big city. It’s also a great place to raise a family, and it’s definitely a place I want to stay.”
Erica Rains echoes Tomlinson’s sentiments. She and her husband, Chris, own The Chef and I, an interactive restaurant with a large catering division. “We have Nashville to thank for a lot of our success,” says Rains. “The economic vibe here right now is one of support, and I think everyone feels a responsibility to support small businesses like ours. My husband and I believe Nashville is one of the most amazing, supportive and resilient communities we’ve ever known; it’s a dynamic, forward-thinking city – and it’s a lot of fun.”
Groups like YP Nashville give young professionals an easy way to become involved in the city’s business community. The organization was developed when the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce partnered with 50 young professional organization in middle Tennessee to connect young professionals through networking, professional development and community involvement projects.
“We’re designed to be a go-to hub for anyone relocating to the Nashville market or for those who are coming out of college and who are looking to stay in the area,” says Amy Goode, the Chamber’s manager of talent attraction and retention. “We also support young professionals through our annual Nashville Emerging Leader Awards, which recognize young professionals in fifteen industry classifications.”
To learn more about YP Nashville, upcoming events, networking opportunities, business resources and membership information, visit ypnashville.org.