Understanding Middle Tennessee’s Priorities for Community Development, Planning, and Investments

Robin Rather, Collective Strength

Robin Rather specializes in market research and strategy for a range of business, non-profit and governmental clients and is a recognized advocate for sustainability and related policy issues. Her company, Collective Strength, is based in Austin.

Working alongside regional planning experts, Rather’s approach to citizen research goes beyond just generating data and reports. She is well known for analytical skills that reach farther into the “mindset” of diverse community segments and goes on to synthesize these often wide ranging viewpoints into cohesive planning priorities. Her approach also provides a way to benchmark attitudes and perceptions about regional plans as they evolve over time. Rather will present on understanding Middle Tennessee’s priorities for community development, planning, and investments.

3:30pm: “Great Leaders Creating Great Communities” Panel

How are we doing? Aligning Comprehensive Planning, Design, Community, and Economic Development

Leading local officials will report our Middle Tennessee region’s progress in comprehensive planning. Franklin Mayor Ken Moore will moderate. The panel will also feature Nashville Planning Director Rick Bernhardt — Nashville 2040 General Plan, Robertson County Mayor Howard Bradley and Commissioner Jonathan Garner —Realizing Robertson Growth and Development Plan, and Gallatin Mayor Jo Ann Graves —Gallatin On The Move 2020 Plan. For more information, visit the Speaker Bios section of our POWER OF TEN website.

4:15pm: Middle Tennessee Leaders Panel

How are we doing? Next Steps toward Middle Tennessee’s Transportation and Transit Priorities

Charles Bone, Founder and Chairman, Bone McAllester Norton PLLC

Charles W. Bone is the founder and chairman of Bone McAllester Norton PLLC. He serves as a classic “Trusted Advisor” to clients seeking advice on corporate and litigation issues, especially for “big deals” or “bet the company” matters. His experience covers many industries and many areas of law, including business formation, mergers and acquisitions, capital creation, joint ventures, financial institutions, media law and government relations.

Charles serves in leadership roles for many civic and charitable organizations. He is on the board of directors of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, and recently, at the invitation of Mayor Karl Dean and the Middle Tennessee Mayor’s Caucus, coordinated the formation of the Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee. The Alliance is composed of public and private sector volunteers whose mission is to develop a plan for funding public transit in Middle Tennessee. In August 2009, Governor Bredesen appointed Charles to a six year term on the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. He is also a member of Nashville’s Agenda, an alumnus of Leadership Nashville, and a founder of Cumberland Region Tomorrow.

Ed Cole, Executive Director, Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee

Ed has just been appointed as the first Executive Director of the Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee. Most recently, Ed was the first Chief of Environment and Planning, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) from 2003 to 2007. Prior to his TDOT role, Ed was the first Executive Director of Cumberland Region Tomorrow, a 10-county regional visioning organization across Middle Tennessee. Before becoming head of Cumberland Region Tomorrow, Ed served nearly 20 years in local and state government, including Deputy Commissioner and acting Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Ed has taught government and planning at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, George Peabody College in Nashville, and the University of Sydney in Australia.

4:30pm: Regional Call To Action

Advancing our Region’s Collaborative Actions on Key Regional Issues

Karl Dean, Mayor of Nashville

Karl Dean is the sixth mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. He was elected on Sept. 11, 2007 and was re-elected on Aug. 4, 2011 to serve a second term. During his time in office, Dean has led Nashville through two big challenges – a deep national recession and a 1,000- year flood – and has still made progress on his priorities of education, public safety and economic development. He also works diligently on efforts to sustain and improve  Nashville’s high quality of life. Mayor Dean’s priorities are improving schools, making neighborhoods safer and bringing more and better jobs to Nashville. He also works to sustain and improve Nashville’s high quality of life through numerous initiatives that promote health, sustainability and volunteerism.

4:50pm: Leadership in Regional Thinking and Action Awards

5:00pm: Conclusion

5:00pm–6:00pm: Regional and State Networking Reception

For more information on speakers, and to register, visit 10power.org. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to hear key leaders across our region discuss Middle Tennessee’s current and future economic and quality of life opportunities.

Make plans to attend the 5^th annual POWER OF TEN Regional Summit as we continue our focus on Middle Tennessee’s Key Regional Issues and Opportunities.

Watch your inbox for more details and visit our new 10Power.org website for continuing information.

Cumberland Region Tomorrow is an organization with a single goal: to make a difference in our region’s future. We know you share that goal. To learn about our region’s opportunities, make your plans to attend the Annual POWER OF TEN Regional Summit.

For this round of grants, projects will be selected based on their ability to contribute to the long-term economic competitiveness of the nation, improve the condition of existing transportation facilities and systems, improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve the safety of U.S. transportation facilities and improve the quality of living and working environments of communities through increased transportation choices and connections. DOT will also focus on projects that are expected to quickly create and preserve jobs and spur rapid increases in economic activity.

While these grants are very similar to previous TIGER grants, there are a few differences:

The FY 2011 Continuing Appropriations Act will not provide any funding for projects solely for the planning, preparation, or design of capital projects (“TIGER Planning Grants”); however, these activities may be eligible to the extent that they are part of an overall construction project that receives TIGER Discretionary Grants funding;

Click here to read the full interim notice of funding available (PDF). For more information visit www.dot.gov/tiger/.

If you’re not already part of Smart Growth America’s Sustainable Communities Network but would like to be, click here to sign up for updates.

Sincerely,

Smart Growth America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Cumberland Region Tomorrow and the Nashville MPO Announce the 2011 Regional Summit: “Our Region Grows Together”
Cumberland Region Tomorrow (CRT) and the Nashville Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will host the annual Power of 10 Regional Summit on May 25th, 2011 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The theme of this year’s summit “Our Region Grows Together” will focus on continued efforts and strategies to promote and implement quality growth visioning, planning, and development in the ten county Middle Tennessee region.
Summit attendees will be provided a progress report and have the chance to provide real time input regarding regional thinking and actions concerning: Transportation/Transit, Quality Growth and Sustainable Development, Infrastructure, Open Space Conservation, Air and Water Quantity and Quality, and Economic Competitiveness.
Presentations will include a strategies and action session for the Middle Tennessee HUD Regional Planning Grant, national speakers to share knowledge and compare regional efforts on core issues, and federal government leaders to educate regional leaders and organizations on current sustainable communities initiative policy and funding opportunities to support and motivate our region’s actions.
The Power of 10 Regional Summit brings together over 500 regional leaders and organizations in business, government, and non-profit sectors interested in working collaboratively to address the challenges and opportunities created by regional growth.
CRT Director, Bridget Jones, describes the importance of regional thinking and planning. “As the latest U.S. Census numbers indicate people want to live in Middle Tennessee. Our region is poised to work together to insure we grow and develop in a way that insures wise use of our resources, preserves our natural landscapes and unique communities, and keeps the region positioned for economic competitiveness in the 21st Century.”
The Summit will take place from 1 pm till 5:15 pm with a reception to follow. Tickets are $30 for private sector participants and free to public employees.

For more information on the summit and to register go online to 10power.org.

Cumberland Region Tomorrow (CRT) and the Nashville Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will host the annual Power of 10 Regional Summit on May 25th, 2010 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The theme of this years summit Our Region Grows Together will focus on continued efforts and strategies to promote and implement quality growth development in the ten county Middle Tennessee region.

What we’ll do:

Provide an update on progress towards our Six Issues of Regional Importance identified by regional research for the 2009 Regional Summit:
Regional Transportation/Transit
Regional Land Use/Quality Growth and Sustainable Development
Regional Infrastructure
Regional Open Space Conservation
Regional Air and Water Quality and Quantity
Regional Economic Competitiveness
Gather real time input from summit participants regarding regional values and planned actions to advance our region
Present the Middle Tennessee HUD Regional Planning Grant – Three Year Strategies and Actions – to confirm shared goals, mutual benefits, and collaborative actions necessary for our collective success
Who we’ll hear from:

National Keynote Speaker to share knowledge and compare our efforts with peer cities and regions
National Federal Government Leader to educate regional business leaders, government representatives and interested non- profit agencies on current Sustainable Communities Initiative policies and funding
Regional Leaders Panel to inform summit participants on completed regional plans or regional efforts in progress toward our Six Issues of Regional Importance
The Summit will take place from 1 pm till 5:15 pm with a reception to follow. Tickets are $30 for private sector participants and free to public employees.

For more information on the summit and to register visit: 10power.org