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Business View Magazine
that money came from federal grants, where the city
only had to put in 20 percent,” she says. “Summer
County also contributed a chunk of money to the proj-
ect because it’s the County Court House that’s on the
square. The Greenway projects were approximately $5
million for the three parts.”
Bates believes that these redevelopment projects
have significantly improved the look and attractive-
ness of downtown, helping to generate a different mix
of retail businesses, there. “We’ve gone from primar-
ily an office complex area to one-of-a-kind restaurants,
retail shops, boutiques, and an art mall venue where
local artists have booths,” she reports. “Because the
streetscape was done and the downtown was new,
one of the most successful projects that was start-
ed by the city was a summer concert series. Once a
month the square is closed off and a couple of thou-
sand people come downtown. It’s a family event. It’s
free to the public and, of course, the people patronize
the businesses. But it also showcases the downtown
and draws interest, not only from Gallatin and around
Summer County, but from middle Tennessee, as well.
So, it’s been one of our signature events that’s created
an opportunity for us to market ourselves outside our
city.”
While Gallatin’s revived downtown is drawing new busi-
nesses and people to the city’s core, large firms in its
industrial areas already employ thousands of Gallatin
