In a groundbreaking move back in 2021, Larry Ellison, chairman, and co-founder of Oracle Corp., struck a deal with Nashville that promised to bring 8,500 jobs to the city by 2031. This monumental agreement, totaling $1.35 billion and spanning a sprawling 70-acre campus on the East Bank, marked the largest economic development deal in Tennessee's history.
Fast forward nearly three years, the tech titan publicly declared Nashville as the future home of Oracle's world headquarters during a health care industry summit. When asked about the rationale behind choosing Nashville, Ellison shared his insight with former U.S. senator and Nashville entrepreneur Bill Frist.
"We want to be in a community — and I use that word very precisely — we want to be part of a community where our people want to live," Ellison said. "Nashville is a fabulous place to live. It's a great place to raise a family. It has a unique and vibrant culture. As we surveyed our employees in large numbers, Nashville ticked all the boxes of, ‘this is where I'd love to raise a family, this is where I'd love to go to work’.”
Mr. Ellison - I agree wholeheartedly. Having personally called the Greater Nashville area home for over two decades, I can attest that it indeed encapsulates everything extoled, and more. From my perspective, there exists a widespread consensus among residents and tourist alike that Nashville is a city like no other.
The Oracle move is part of a trend of the Greater Nashville region drawing companies seeking lower operational costs, no income tax for workers and relatively low property costs and taxes (compared to other major metros). Couple that with the Nashville MSA’s migration pattern in 2023 of approximately 86 new residents per day, companies eyeing the area have plenty to be optimistic about. And the region is not just a great environment for businesses. With employment growth of more than twenty thousand new jobs in the past 15 months and 2.2% unemployment, individuals and families moving here having a more likely chance of landing a good job.
The largest portions of the population growth is seen not only in Davidson County, but also in Nashville’s suburbs - particularly in Rutherford, Williamson, and Wilson counties. This surge underscores the allure of not just our iconic city, but the entire Middle Tennessee region.
Although specifics regarding Oracle's relocation to Nashville remain unclear, one fact stands resolute: the Greater Nashville area is an exceptional place to live, work, and play.
