Hometown for Headquarters
With a nod to Nashville’s convenient location, vibrant business climate, educated workforce and great quality of life, many big-name companies have chosen to locate their headquarters in the metropolitan Nashville area.
In 2008, Nissan North America moved its North American headquarters from Gardena, Calif., to metro Nashville and built a $100 million facility to house more than 1,000 employees. A new, 180,000-square-foot regional Verizon Wireless headquarters building opened in 2008.
Olhausen Billiard Manufacturing Inc. moved to Music City from San Diego in 2006, and Mars Petcare US moved here from the Los Angeles area in 2007.
Nashville’s central location is a big draw. Eight states border Tennessee, and 23 states are within a 500-mile radius of Nashville. Three interstate highways – 24, 40 and 65 – intersect in Nashville, and 11 airlines and their affiliates provide flights from Nashville International Airport. Seven domestic cargo airlines also offer service.
The city has become a key distribution center for several companies, and corporations such as Federated Department Stores, Wilson Sporting Goods, Gap and Aldi have chosen the Nashville area as a location from which to ship their products.
Nashville is home to Gibson Guitar, one of the world’s largest music instrument manufacturers. Gibson increased its general labor and manufacturing employee base by 200 in 2008 due to the success and demand for Gibson USA manufactured instruments.
Other top companies with major facilities in Nashville include Bridgestone American Holdings, Caterpillar Financial Services, Community Health Systems, Dell Computer, Dollar General, DuPont, Gaylord Entertainment, Healthways, HCA, Louisiana Pacific, Rogers Group, Tractor Supply Co. and Whirlpool Corp.
The business media has picked up on the trend. Expansion Management magazine has recognized Nashville multiple times as the nation’s No. 1 hottest city for business relocations and expansions. In addition, CNN Money tabbed Nashville as one of America’s Smartest Cities, and Forbes magazine cited the city among the 10 Best Places for Business and Careers.
