WWW.TOWNOFSMYRNA.ORG SMYRNA T E N N E S S E E SMALL TOWN MYSTIQUE WITH A BIG CITY BONUS
SMALL TOWN MY WITH A BIG CITY SMYRNA, TN AT A GLANCE SMYRNA, TENNESSEE WHAT: A thriving town, expertly balancing growth and quality of life amenities WHERE: R utherford County, Tennessee WEBSITE: www.townofsmyrna.org A DYNAMIC COMMUNITY BLENDING CHARM AND PROGRESS 1 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12
YSTIQUE BONUS Situated in the heart of Middle Tennessee, Smyrna, a thriving town of 57,000 residents, celebrates a fascinating history while embracing a future filled with progress. Established in the mid-1800s as an agricultural community, Smyrna thrived with its large farms and plantations, including the historic Sam Davis Home—a 200-acre site now preserved as a state historical landmark. 2 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12
The arrival of the railroad further cemented Smyrna’s place on the map, transforming it into a hub for trade and transportation. In 1941, the establishment of Sewart Air Force Base spurred population growth and economic vitality. Although the base’s closure in 1970 brought its share of challenges, Smyrna’s determined leaders successfully revitalized the town by attracting new industries and creating jobs. With an ideal location just 20 minutes from Nashville International Airport (BNA), Smyrna enjoys the best of both worlds- proximity to major urban hubs and a quaint, small-town ambiance. Town Manager, David Santucci emphasizes, “Our location is a gem. We’re right between Nashville and Murfreesboro, two major cities here in Middle Tennessee. As people continue to visit Nashville, the ‘it city,’ they’re realizing Tennessee isn’t just a great vacation destination; it’s a wonderful place to live. This area, in particular, is starting to grow because of that.” Mayor Mary Esther Reed adds,“Even with the size of our community, it still has a small-town feel.” This balance of growth and hometown charm is a defining characteristic of Smyrna, making it an increasingly attractive choice for residents and businesses. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Smyrna’s economic strength is driven by a blend of industrial, commercial, and small-business growth. “With the addition of Nissan in 1981, manufacturing really took off and transformed the county,” explains Paul Latture, president of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. He notes that the Nissan manufacturing facility still thrives and employs approximately 8,000 people in Smyrna, making it the town’s largest employer. “There are various pockets of activity in the South Park industrial area. Just recently, Pepsi opened a new logistics facility for the region, but the automotive industry certainly is king in Smyrna and Rutherford County, and that continues to do well,” he says. Additionally, Smyrna is home to the busiest general aviation airport in the state, which also ranks as the third-largest airport in Tennessee. Plans are underway to potentially house the Air National Guard, which would bring an influx of daily employees, and 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12 SMYRNA, TN
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TAYLORFARMS.COM Proud to bring the freshest, most flavorful produce to the Smyrna community.
FROM THE FARM TO THE TABLE Taylor Farms continues to set the industry standard while serving the community with pride When thoughts turn to where to find the finest quality, fresh-cut vegetables, fruits, and prepared food, the name Taylor Farms springs to mind. As one of North America’s largest producers of freshcut produce, Taylor Farms leads the industry in quality, innovation, and sustainability. Founded in 1995 by founder and CEO Bruce Taylor, the company has steadily grown its operations and distribution capacity throughout North America. Smyrna,Tennessee is a prime location where Taylor Farms’ presence is felt..Taylor Farms Tennessee has expertly maintained and enhanced the exacting standards that define the industry-leading brand and plays a central role in the company’s Southeastern operations.After acquiring the Smyrna facility in 1997, Taylor Farms Tennessee was founded with the same commitment to providing healthy, fresh, and dynamic food solutions as its parent company. By focusing on the Smyrna facility’s early operations needs and ensuring streamlined efficiency in its capacities, Taylor Farms Tennessee set forth on a path to expand and transform its operations to optimize square footage. Distribution capacity grew steadily and to reflect the strength and reach of the Taylor Farms Tennessee division, the company invested $5.9 million to build a new state-of-the-art facility adjacent to its original home. With the goal of continued streamlining in mind, the Smyrna state-of-the-art plant provided new technological advancements and the ability to grow more rapidly, steadfastly committed to its mission to produce the freshest products in its market space. Specializing in meal kits, ready-to-eat salads, and innovative fresh food options catering to the food service and retail sector, Taylor Food Tennessee represents a regional powerhouse that meets customer demand and exacting standards while upholding the unmatched quality and integrity Taylor Foods is renowned for. Taylor Farms cares deeply about the communities that it serves. Meeting and exceeding customer expectations remains paramount, but Taylor Farms’ impact is not limited to those who consume their fresh fruits and veggies. For many years, Taylor Farms Tennessee has made it a long-standing priority to connect with the local community it is so fond of by supporting local organizations. Taylor Farms has reached out in their local community’s most critical moments, supports local food banks, local school initiatives and transformative products for the city of Smyrna while regularly contributing funding to health research programs. Taylor Farms Tennessee has helped the local economy and takes great pride in being a partner of the dynamic city of Smyrna, all the while ensuring that it continues to do what it does best; provide the freshest, most innovative produce options for the its customers know and love.
a further boost to the town’s economy. “They have to find a place to move, and they have been looking at the Smyrna Airport as a new home,” Santucci discloses. “If that happens, it will be transformational for the Town of Smyrna. It’ll bring an additional 400 to 800 employees every day, and when they do their drill weekends, we could see as many as 1,200 people coming on a weekend. It’s a long-term project, and it still has a lot of planning and execution to do, but we are in talks with them, and we would welcome them to the community.” Local enterprises are another major contributor to Smyrna’s economy. “We talk about these big industries, but the heart of our town is our small businesses, which are our community’s backbone. Here in the town, we have 2,100 businesses, and 64% of our business community comprises small businesses,” boasts Mayor Reed. “They do so much to add to the quality of life here in Smyrna, for events and participation in anything we do.”Vanessa Haley,Vice President of the Smyrna Independent Merchants Association (SIMA), continues, “The small business community is really reaching out and connecting, being a large part of the community and making themselves seen.” An area known as the Depot District, centered around a historic train depot, has been instrumental in revitalizing Smyrna’s downtown, solidifying its reputation as a go-to place. Santucci recounts,“That area is slowly growing into what I would call a really cool, hip vibe. We’re getting a lot of little niche restaurants and small businesses, including some restaurants based in the Nashville area, coming into 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12 SMYRNA, TN
“The project, named after Sewart’s Air Force Base, is a symbol of our community’s resilience. We’re not just excited, we’re thrilled about this development that will include a medical office, office space, retail, a hotel, and townhomes.” A COMMUNITY BUILT ON QUALITY OF LIFE Smyrna takes pride in offering residents a high quality of life, with excellent schools, diverse housing options, and an extensive park system. “We have Smyrna.” A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT One of the town’s most ambitious initiatives is the $200 million Sewart’s Landing development, a mixed-use project encompassing 45 acres that was owned by the town for many years. “We have held on to this property, waiting for the right project, and we really felt like this was it,” details Mayor Reed. 9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12 SMYRNA, TN
Middle Tennessee State University, situated just next door to Smyrna at the geographic center of the state in Murfreesboro, is a comprehensive university that embraces its role as a preferred destination for Tennessee undergraduates while expanding its reach nationally and internationally through signature programs and select master’s and doctoral programs. With an enrollment of more than 20,000 students and about 300 majors and concentrations, MTSU is the largest locally governed university in Tennessee. It is the No. 1 producer of graduates for the Greater Nashville economy; a top choice for first-generation and transfer students, a leader in adult degree completion programs; and home to the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center, the largest and most comprehensive facility of its kind on a college campus. MTSU Online features 73 fully online majors, concentrations, and certificates, offering accessible and engaging educational experiences you can access from anywhere in the world. It is delivered by our renowned faculty and backed by comprehensive student support MTSU has been named to The Princeton Review’s list of the Best 389 Colleges in the U.S. six years in a row. It is also featured on the best colleges lists of The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and U.S. News and World Report. Among America’sBest Princeton Review Forbes Wall Street Journal U.S. News and World Report From The Princeton Review. ©2024 TPR Education. All rights reserved. Used under license. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University. Middle Tennessee State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age,status as a protected veteran, or any other category protected by law. See our full policy at mtsu.edu/iec.
over 800 acres of parkland,” Mayor Reed touts, “We have one of the best park systems, I would say, in the country.” Cedar Stone Park is the newest addition, and the town will see the addition of six new tennis courts, and six pickleball courts to go along with the existing turf fields. The Smyrna Depot Farmers Market is a regional favorite, bringing together local farmers, artisans, craft and food vendors and live entertainment from May to September. Community events play a vital role in bringing Smyrna residents together for fun and festivity. Signature gatherings like the Fourth of July celebration, which attracts close to 15,000 attendees, and annual traditions such as Simply Smyrna, Depot Days, and the Smyrna Christmas Parade offer plentiful opportunities for connection. “One of the great things about our Christmas parade is we try to give back,” shares Mayor Reed. “We ask people attending the parade to bring nonperishable food items, which we collect along the 11 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12 SMYRNA, TN
parade route. We’re always looking for ways to give back to our community.”Another cherished tradition is the Top Gun Night Run, an event honoring the memory of Captain Jeff Kuss and showcasing the close-knit spirit of Smyrna. A STRONG PARTNERSHIP FOR GROWTH Latture highlights the importance of the partnership between Rutherford County and the Town of Smyrna in driving economic development and tourism. “Every community in Rutherford County is a little bit different, but what we do is try to determine what assets are available to us, and what types of jobs the various communities are looking for, and we try to capitalize on that. But, if we didn’t have such a strong public partner like the Town of Smyrna, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do,” he asserts. One significant initiative is extending sewer infrastructure to the area surrounding Interstate 840, a move expected to unlock considerable Middle Tennessee runs on good energy. At MTE, we know that empowering a community goes well beyond our grids and substations. It lies in our connection with one another. Learn more at mte.com 12 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12
untapped potential. “The Town of Smyrna is going to be running some sewer to that area, which will open up a whole new frontier for us. So, we’re excited about that opportunity here in the next little bit,” he remarks. On the tourism side, Latture commends Smyrna’s exceptional park system and its ability to host sports tournaments that attract visitors from across the nation. “ We leverage their park system like crazy,” he conveys. In addition, he underscores the importance of the attractions which draw visitors to the community. “The Sam Davis Home and the Kuss Memorial are really a tribute to what the town is all about,” he states. “So, we’re very pleased to be a part of the economic development portfolio for the whole county, as well as the Town of Smyrna.” LOOKING AHEAD Smyrna’s excellence is recognized far and wide, with many accolades pointing to its strong governance and community-driven approach. The town earned the Tennessee Municipal League Award for Excellence in Governance in 2023 and was named one of Fortune Magazine’s “50 Best Places to Live for Families” in 2023. It also boasts a AAA credit rating from Standard and Poor’s and the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting. As Smyrna continues to experience growth, the town remains committed to maintaining the high quality of life that its residents have come to know and love. “I think our goal is truly to provide the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” Mayor Reed reflects. “We want young people to feel excited about returning to Smyrna after they go off to college or pursue other opportunities. Our hope is that they will come back to Smyrna and make this town their home. We want residents and visitors to experience the love we have for our community.” Completed in 2024, Vintage Stonetrace in Smyrna, Tennessee features 325 luxury apartments and 7 commercial office suites. AN INDUSTRY LEADING MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPER & BUILDER tdkconstruction.com 13 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12 SMYRNA, TN
PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Taylor Farms www.taylorfarms.com Taylor Farms is the leading North American producer of salads and healthy fresh foods, with production facilities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The company is grounded in a commitment to quality, assured supply, innovation, sustainability, and food safety. Family-owned and based in Salinas, California, known as “The Salad Bowl of the World,” Taylor Farms is dedicated to delivering fresh, delicious products. For more information and recipes, visit www.taylorfarms.com. n Middle Tennessee State University www.mtsu.edu With an enrollment of more than 20,000 students, Middle Tennessee State University is the largest locally governed university in the state. It is the No. 1 producer of graduates for Greater Nashville; a top choice for firstgeneration and transfer students; and home to the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center. n TMP www.tmpartners.com Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee with an additional office in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, TMP is an architectural firm specializing in planning, design, and project management for both private and nonprofit healthcare, commercial/office, education, and government/ civic facilities for nearly 50 years. With a strong presence in the Southeast, TMP’s project portfolio spans across the country, strengthening our experience and exposure to multiple markets across geographic concerns. n Middle Tennessee Electric www.mte.com Founded in 1936, MTE is the largest electric cooperative in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region and the second largest in the United States. It serves over 750,000 Tennesseans in Rutherford, Cannon, Williamson, and Wilson counties. MTE’s broadband subsidiary, United Communications, provides high-speed internet and phone services to portions of Williamson County. n TDK Construction www.tdkconstruction.com n Neel-Schaffer, Inc. www.neel-schaffer.com Neel-Schaffer, founded in 1983, is a multidisciplined engineering, planning, and construction management firm with 650+ employees in 39 offices across nine states. Guided by a mission of Care, Service, and Excellence, the firm delivers innovative solutions for clients and communities and has had a strong Tennessee presence since 1991. 14 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12
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