Food at the Fair
🎡 The state fair's main attraction · TIRRC sues THP · Scrapyard future · Homeless count remains steady · The Corvette Caper · Much more!
Good afternoon, everyone. The state fair in Lebanon starts today, we talk about the food... More action on the mayor's "Belonging Fund" meant to support illegals in the city... The city's spent money on reducing homelessness. It hasn't worked so far... And we tell the tale of the Corvette Caper.
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As the Wilson County — Tennessee State Fair inches toward one million annual attendees, Pick Tennessee has become its crown jewel
From Jerod Hollyfield
For over three decades, Pick Tennessee Products has been a mainstay in promoting local farms and businesses, but its presence at the Wilson County — Tennessee State Fair has taken things to another level. Since debuting at the fair three years ago, the initiative has exploded—growing from 45 producers in its first year to 136 today, offering more than 650 locally made products. From artisan coffee to small-batch spices and charcuterie, every item comes with a story rooted in Tennessee’s agricultural heritage.
This rapid growth mirrors that of the fair itself, which merged with the Tennessee State Fair in 2021 and now ranks as the third-largest in the nation, drawing more than 800,000 visitors last year. The move from Nashville proper to Wilson County has not only cemented the event’s national standing but also reflects a broader trend: Middle Tennessee’s expansion can no longer be contained within the capital’s limits. Much like the thousands who have left Nashville for surrounding communities, the fair has thrived in Lebanon’s more rural, less commercial setting.
Governor Bill Lee and state leaders see the fair as both a cultural touchstone and an economic engine for small businesses. With plans to expand Pick Tennessee’s reach through pop-up and mobile stores across all 95 counties, the effort is poised to bring the fair’s spirit to communities statewide—further proof that Middle Tennessee’s growth story stretches well beyond Nashville’s borders.
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💰 Lawsuits & Legal Fees The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) is suing the Tennessee Highway Patrol for withholding information about the recent immigration enforcement operations in Nashville. According to Mayor O’Connell, his office will be monitoring the suit closely.
You may recall that TIRRC was one of a handful of nonprofits that partnered with Metro to launch the Belonging Fund to push back against ICE aftermath initial operations. The charity and its supporters received national scrutiny back in May, sparking a probe into Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office to investigate the claim that public money was being used for the legal expenses of illegal aliens. Over time, O’Connell reiterated that the money would not be used to cover legal expenses, but Axios recently pointed out that the fund has included those services in its description.
“The Belonging Fund enables nonprofit partners and service providers to deliver legal support services and culturally responsive healthcare to the immigrant communities they serve,” reads the website.
The mayor’s office has since pushed back by pointing out that the charity was funded privately, which washes their hands clean. "How they use the funds is at their discretion," said the mayor’s spokesperson, Alex Apple, to Axios. “Metro has no involvement and continues to follow guidance that keeps us compliant with state and federal law."
🗑️ Will Something Exciting Replace The Scrap Metal Site? The 45-acre scrapyard located on the East Bank near Nissan Stadium sold for $245 million this week. Though the investors and plans for the property have not been revealed, Mayor O’Connell suspects that the new owners may be planning to take advantage of the prime real estate that’s located near the Cumberland and future East Bank Development.
“I think the price point suggests it may be something more exciting and interesting than a scrap metal site going forward,” said the mayor during this morning’s media roundtable. He went on to explain that it will remain privately owned but will likely be privately developed alongside the city’s Imagine East Bank project.
🗳️ Lee Won’t Be Weighing In On The Next TN Governor Governor Bill Lee says he won’t endorse anyone in the GOP race to replace him. That said, when asked about Senator Marsha Blackburn’s bid, Lee provided a glowing review. “She's a great leader for our country, and I'm proud that she stepped into the race,” he told WSMV. “I'm proud that we've got good candidates that are willing. We need people that are willing to step up and serve…so excited for her!” As for his own political future, Lee made it clear that he does not plan on running for U.S. Senate.
Since the inception of the city's Office of Homeless Services in 2023, the homeless population in the city has increased. This, despite managing more than $50 million in pandemic-era funds and benefitting from a $35 million investment in the Strobel House, which yielded 90 supporting housing units. During the most recent budget cycle, the OHS successfully lobbied for an additional $5 million in funding, nearly doubling its yearly operating budget.
As the city demands more money and resources to combat the city's growing homeless population, it's good to remember how this played out in San Francisco, where, as the city has poured more money into "homeless services," the homeless population continued rising.
OTHER HEADLINES
- Musk's Boring Co. plans to tunnel under an endangered Nashville species' habitat (Tennessean) Mill Creek, the only home of the endangered Nashville crayfish, stands in the path of The Boring Company's proposed Music City Loop route connecting the city's airport to downtown.
- Federal court blocks Trump administration from withholding Nashville grant funds (Fox17) A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by dozens of local governments and agencies, including Nashville, over what they call unconstitutional political conditions attached to billions in federal grants.
DEVELOPMENT
- ✈️ Southwest to add Knoxville, Costa Richa, Jamaica flights via BNA (Post)
- Downtown skyscraper sells for $55.25M (Post)
- Tune Airport slated for Jet Access facility (Post)
- Design altered for proposed Rutledge Hill tower (Post)
- Barrett starts building $76M Murfreesboro facility (Main Street)
✹ THE CORVETTE CAPER
Bowling Green's GM assembly plant gets hit by some sophisticated criminals
From Davis Hunt
I believe in greatness. I believe in inspired acts of human ingenuity. And, I believe these acts can extend to the criminal world. Amidst the drum beat of rote murder, assault, and theft, occasionally an act of delinquent brilliance – a flash so brief, you might miss it if you don’t peg the story to a new browser tab – really stands out. In this case, the act brings together the high and the low.
The high: an Ocean’s 11 type scheme to “liberate” Corvettes from the Bowling Green assembly plant.
The low: a decision leading to arrest so baffling as to challenge our understanding of the depths of human stupidity.
This whole drama started in March of this year. Thieves cut through the perimeter fencing of the Bowling Green Corvette assembly plant and drove eight brand-new Corvettes valued at $1.2 million right off the property.
THINGS TO DO
View our calendar for the week here and for more recs, click here.
📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.
🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.
👨🏻🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.
TONIGHT
🪩 The Eighth Room presents DJ Remsteele’s Let’s Dance! @ The Eighth Room, 8p, Info
🪕 Kevin Denney @ Station Inn, 9p, $25, Info
🪕 Philip Bowen @ The Basement, 7p, $19.78, Info
🤘 Toto + Christopher Cross + Men At Work @ Ascend Amphitheater, 6p, $47+, Info
🪕 Vince Gill @ Ryman Auditorium, 8p, $242+, Info
🪕 The Cowpokes @ Acme Feed & Seed, 12p, Free, Info
🍀 Live Irish Music @ McNamara’s Irish Pub, 6p, Free, Info
🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info
📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.
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Today's newsletter is brought to you by Megan Podsiedlik (Nashville), Jerod Hollyfield (Crowd Corner), Camelia Brennan (Local Noise), and Davis Hunt (everything else).