Wilson County Trends winter 2023

WilsonCountyTrends

ACumberlandUniversityPublication • Winter2023

Dean’sForeword

ChrisFuller Dean,LSSTB

InThisIssue

ThankyoufortakingsometimetoreviewtotheWinter2023issue ofWilsonCountyTrends,apublicationaboutbusinessandeconomic activityinWilsonCounty,Tennessee.

CumberlandUniversity’sLabrySchoolofScience,Technologyand Businessispleasedtobeasponsorofthispublicationandhopesthat readerswillfinditinformative.ThankyouforyourinterestinWilson CountyTrends.

SteveShao WCTEditor

WilsonCountyTrends containsbusinessandeconomicdataonthecountyandalsoprovidesnewsarticleson localindustry,businessesandspecialtopics.InadditiontoWCT’sregulareconomictrendsreport,thisissue includesarticlesonWCpopulationgrowthfrom2010to2020,anoverviewofWC’spublicvenueindustry,and guestarticlesontheFarmBureauExpoCenterandTheMillatLebanon.

Contents

CumberlandUniversity

Foundedin1842,CumberlandUniversityoffersa varietyofeducational,athleticandsocialexperiencestoenhancethelearningopportunitiesof thecurrentstudentbody.Theuniversityhasan exceptionalacademicprogramsteepedintheliberalarts,business,technology,nursingandmany otherfields.TheUniversity’sathleticteamsregularlycompeteforconferenceandnationalchampionships.CumberlandUniversityislocatedin Lebanon,Tennessee,30mileseastofNashville.

President ...................Dr.PaulStumb

Provost ...............Dr.C.WilliamMcKee

Dean,LabrySchool .........Dr.ChrisFuller

WilsonCountyTrendsEditor Dr.SteveShao

RecentTrends

UsingdatacompiledbytheU.S.BureauofLabor StatisticsandtheTennesseeDepartmentofRevenue, belowwepresenttimesseriesandcross-sectional graphsdepictingeconomicbusinessactivityinWilson County,Tennesseeforyears2011to2021.

PandemicImpacts

InreviewingWCeconomicdata1 forthepast5years orso,itisimportanttokeepinmindthatthesame periodCOVIDpandemicimpactsandsubsequent federalregulatorychangesaffectingtheU.S.economywouldexpectedlyfilterdowntoalsoaffectthe WClocaleconomy.U.S.DepartmentofLabordata showed,forexample,significantjoblossesacrossthe countryfromFebruary2020toOctober2021.Itwas alsoobservedthatthepandemicnationallyaffected

certainindustriesandpopulationgroupsmorethan others.

TheBrookingsInstitutenotes2 fromlate2019 throughtheendof2020thatwhilethehospitality andleisureindustry,business/professionalservices, andservicesclassifiedbyNAICSas“other,”were hitfairlyhardduringthepandemic,otherindustries, suchasinformationservices,informationtechnology andgovernmentwithstoodtheharmfuleffectsofthe pandemicwithlessadverseeffect.Asshowninthe followingWCeconomicdata,incomparisonwith manyotherpartsofthecountry,WilsonCounty’s economyhasweatheredthepandemicstormbetter thanmost.

NumberofBusinessEstablishments

Growthinthenumberofbusinessestablishmentsin WilsonCountyhasoccurredatroughlythesameannualrateasnotedbythe10yeartrendlinefor20112021showninFigureR1.Fortherecentpast5years, 2017through2021,thetotalnumberofbusinessestablishmentsinWilsonCountygrew32%,from2,510 to3,304respectively.Thisrepresentsanaverageof 159businessesaddedannuallytothecountyeconomy.

InconsideringtheWCbusinessestablishment databyNAICSindustrysector3 (seeFigureR4),we noteseveralinterestingcountybusinesstrends.By position,thetop3industrysectorswiththehighest numberofestablishmentsinWCforyear2017were RetailTrade(NAICS44-45),Professional&TechnicalServices(NAICS54)andConstruction(NAICS 23)at399,299,and290firms,respectively.Five yearslaterin2021,thetop3WCindustrysectorsare ledbyProfessional&TechnicalServices,thenRetail TradeandConstructionwith489,445,and381firms, respectively.Theflipinthetoptwoindustrysectors, fromretailtradetoprofessional/technicalservices, reflectsahealthyshiftintheWCeconomy,fromone withalargelyconsumer-drivenbasetoonewitha higherskilledworkforceandhigherwagestructure. Thisshifttoacountyeconomycomposedofamore technicallytrainedworkforceissupportedbythefact thatthetop3industrysectorswiththegreatestnum-

1 U.S.DeptofLabordataforyear2021arebasedonpreliminaryestimates.

2 https://www.brookings.edu/research/explaining-the-economic-impact-of-covid-19-core-industries-and-the-hispanic-workforce/

3 TheNorthAmericanIndustryClassificationSystem(NAICS)isthestandardusedbyFederalstatisticalagenciesinclassifying businessestablishmentsforthepurposeofcollecting,analyzing,andpublishingstatisticaldatarelatedtotheU.S.businesseconomy. Source:https://www.census.gov/naics/

Establishmentsin WilsonCounty,TN, 2011-2021

Source:U.S.Bureau ofLaborStatistics

Source:U.S. BureauofLabor Statistics

FigureR1

NumberofBusiness

FigureR2

Numberof Persons Employedby PrivateBusiness inWilson County,TN, 2011-2021

berofWC-basedfirmsaddedduring2017-2021were Professional&TechnicalServices,Healthcare&SocialAssistance(NAICS62)andConstructionat190, 115,and91firms,respectively.

Whichindustrysectorsaregenerallygrowingthe mostintermsofthenumberofbusinessestablishments?FigureR4showsthatgrowthwithineach industrysectorisledbytheInformationcategory (NAICS51),Professional&TechnicalServices,and EducationalServices(NAICS61),allwithhighdoubledigitpercentageincreasesof84%,64%and52%, respectively.Whilethese3sectorsareincreasing theirvisibilityinWC,wenotetwootherhi-growth sectorsthatarenotfarbehind.Transportation& Warehousing(NAICS48-49)andHealthcare&SocialAssistanceincreasedtheirfirmnumbersinWC withintra-sectorgrowthratesof49%and47%,respectively.

WorkforceSize

Growthinthenumberofpersonsemployedbyprivate businessinWilsonCountyhasoccurredatroughly thesameannualemploymentgrowthratethough

FigureR3

AverageWeekly WageforPersons EmployedbyPrivate BusinessinWilson County,TN, 2011-2021

Source:U.S.Bureau ofLaborStatistics

withslightrateincreasesinyears2014,2017and 2020.Seethe10yeartrendlineinFigureR2.For thepast5yearsbeginning2017through2021,the numberofpersonsemployedbyprivatebusinessin WilsonCountyincreasedfrom34,837to47,887respectively.Thisrepresentsanoverallgrowthincrease of37%,oranaverageof2,610newworkersadded annuallytotheWCworkforce.

InconsideringWCworkersbyNAICSindustry sector(seeFigureR5),wenoteseveralinteresting workforcepatterns.In2017,thetop3industryemployersinWCwereRetailTrade,Transportation& WarehousingandAccommodation&FoodServices (NAICS72)with6148,5057and4992workers,respectively.By2021,WC’stop3industryemployers wereTransportation&Warehousing,RetailTrade andAccommodation&FoodServiceswith13964, 6363and5208workers,respectively.Asaregional employer,thereisnoquestionofthecontinuingrapid growthandimportanceofsupplychainbusinessesto theWilsonCountyeconomy.WenotethatWC’s Transportation&Warehousingsectorincreasedits localworkforcesizebyaphenomenal176%overthe

4 AdditionaldiscussionanddetaileddataonWilsonCounty’ssupplychainindustryarefeaturedintheSpring2019issueof WilsonCountyTrends

5 Locationquotients(LQs)arecomputedasanindustry’sshareofaregionaleconomy(forsomeeconomicstatistic,suchas employmentorwage)dividedbytheindustry’sshareoftheUSAtotalforthesamestatistic.Forexample,aregionalLQ=1.0inthe Service-providingindustrywouldmeanthatthelocalregionandthenationareequallyspecializedintheService-providingindustry; ontheotherhand,anLQ=2.1inLeisure&Hospitalitywouldmeanthatthelocalregionhasacomparativelyhigherconcentration ofbusinessesintheLeisure&Hospitalitycategorythanthenationoverall.

NumberofEstablishmentsinWilsonCounty,TNbyNAICSIndustrySector,2017vs2021

Source:U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics

FigureR4

FigureR5

NumberofPersonsEmployedinWilsonCounty,TNbyNAICSIndustrySector,2017vs2021

Source:U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics

Source:U.S.BureauofLaborStatistics

FigureR6

AverageWeeklyWageinWilsonCounty,TNbyNAICSIndustrySector,2017vs2021

FigureR7

MonthlyRetailSales inWilsonCounty, TN,2021

Source:Tennessee Departmentof Revenue

FigureR8

MonthlyRetailSalesbyCategoryinWilsonCountyTN,2021

Source:TennesseeDepartmentofRevenue

FigureR9

MonthlyRetailSalesbyCategoryinWilsonCountyTN,2017-2021

Source:TennesseeDepartmentofRevenue

recent5yearperiod4 .Theimportanceofthesupply chainindustryaspartofWC’sworkforceisfurtherevidencedbyWC’slocationquotientscore5 forannual averageemploymentwhichisanimpressive5.96.

InadditiontoWC’semployerstrengthsinthe supplychainindustries,healthyworkforcegrowth ratesarealsonotedinProfessional&TechnicalServicesandOtherServices(NAICS81)at68%and 57%,respectively.Bynumberofemployeesadded during2017-2021,thetop3sectorswereTransportation&WarehousingfollowedbyProfessional&TechnicalServicesandConstruction,with8907,1012and 702additionalworkers,respectively.

AverageWeeklyWage

Asnotedbythe10yeartrendlinefor2011-2021, growthintheaverageprivateweeklywageinWilsonCountyhasoccurredatroughlythesameannual ratethoughwithaslightwagerateincreasestarting inyear2018.SeeFigureR3.

Forthepast5yearsbeginning2017through 2021,acrossallNAICSindustrycategories,theaverageweeklywageofapersonemployedbyprivate businessinWilsonCountygrewslightly,increasing from 868to 1054.Thiswagegrowthrepresentsa nominalaverageweeklywageincreaseof21%over the5yearperiod.Giventhat 1in2017would beworth 1.1055in2021(a10.55%increase),real wagesinWilsonCountyincreasedabout10.45% (=21%-10.55%)from2017to2021.Duringthe5 yearperiod,allWCindustrycategoriesexperienced doubledigitalpercentagenominalwageincreasesexceptforRealestate,rental&leasingserviceswhich grewat8%.

ByconsideringaverageweeklywagebyNAICS industrysector(seeFigureR6),wenoteseveralinterestingWCwagetrends.In2017,thehighestpaying 3industrysectorswereManagementofcompanies& enterprises(NAICS55),Realestate,Finance&insurance(NAICS52)andConstruction,paying 2283,

1326and 1117,respectively.In2021,Managementofcompanies&enterprisesandFinance&insuranceremainedthetoptwowagegroupsat 2536 and 1763,representing5yeargrowthratesof11% and33%,respectively.Thethirdhighest2021WC industrywageprovider,however,changedoverfrom ConstructiontoInformation.Pandemicsocialdistancingrestrictionswouldseemtobeafactorhere. Whilewenoteamodest10%changeintheaverage weeklywagesprovidedinWC’sConstructionindustry( 1,117to 1,226),wenoteanindustryhigh89% fiveyearwageincreaseinWC’sInformationindustry ( 838to 1,580).

RetailSales

AccordingtotheTennesseeDepartmentofRevenue, 2021totalretailsalesinWilsonCounty,TNwas 3,103,691,623.Retailsalesfor2021representeda5 yearhigh,comingafterapreviousflatsalesinterval ofannualsalesof 2.7,2.6,2,5and2.5billion,respectively.Monthlyretailsalesfor2021areshownin FigureR7.Top3retailcategorysalestotalswerein Autos,Boats&Aircraft(25%),FoodStores(16%) andBuildingMaterials(13%).Monthlyretailsales bycategoryfor2021areshowninFigureR8.

From2017-2021,includingthepandemicperiod thatcreatedmuchdisruptionintheretailsector,we notethattotalannualsalesofWC’slargestretail categoryAutos,Boats&Aircraftdroppedsteadily duringthisperioduntila2021salesincreaseof 597,419,680waspostedoverpreviousyear2020. SuchautosalesdeclinesinWCwouldseemtomirrornationaltrends6 .WiththeexceptionoftheAutos,Boats&Aircraftcategory,otherretailsectorsof WC’seconomyenduredthepandemicerareasonably well,somesectorsevendisplayingmoderategrowth duringthe2017-2021periodsuchasinFoodStores, GeneralMerchandiseandBuildingMaterials.See FigureR9forannualretailsalesbyCategoryinWC, 2017-2021.

6 Seeforexample,“CoronaviruscrippledU.S.autosalesin2020butitcouldhavebeenfarworse”byMichaelWayland,December23rd2020,CNBC.comathttps://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/23/covid-19-crippled-us-auto-sales-in-2020-but-it-could-have-beenworse.html.Thecurrentsemiconductor(computerchip)nationalshortagehasalsobeenamajorconstrainingfactoraffectingthe supplyofnewcarsandboatsavailableforsale.Newautomanufacturescaneasilyrequire1000semiconductorsormorepervehicle. Seeforexample,“WhatHappenedWiththeSemiconductorChipShortage—andHowandWhentheAutoIndustryWillEmerge”by AlisaPriddle,December27th,2021,MotorTrend,athttps://www.motortrend.com/news/automotive-car-industry-semiconductorchip-shortage-reasons-solution/.

PopulationGrowthinWilsonCounty,2010-2020

UsingdatacompiledbytheU.S.CensusBureau, thisarticledescribesthepopulationchangesoccurringinWilsonCountyTNinthedecadebetweenU.S. DecennialCensus7 periodsApril1,2010toApril1, 2020.Withalandareaof570.87squaremiles,WilsonCountyisthe19thlargestcountybygeography outofTennessee’s95counties.WC’spopulation densitypersquaremilein2010was199.7,which increasedto258.8personsby2020.Ranked10th inthestatebycountypopulation,WilsonCounty’s 2020populationbasecountwas147,737persons8 WC’s2020censuscountrepresentsanetincreaseof 33,744persons,or30%,overitsprevious2010censuscountof113,993.WC’s10yeargrowthrate, ranked7thinthestate,placesWilsonCountyasone ofTennessee’sfastestgrowingcounties.Tennessee’s statepopulationincreasedby8.9%inthesametime period.

GrowthFactors

WilsonCountyTNisauniquegeographyinseveral ways.Notably,itseasternandwesternboundaries contraststarklywithoneanother.WC’sruraleastern boundaryissharedwiththeruralcountiesofTrousdale,Smith,DeKalbandCannonCounties,ranked 87th,66th,65th,and79thincountypopulationsize, respectively.WC’surbanwesternboundaryisshared withtheurbancountiesofDavidson,Rutherfordand Sumner,ranked2nd,5thand8thincountypopulationsize,respectively.

Additionally,Davidson’scountyseatisthecityof Nashville9 (alsothestatecapital)witha2020census populationof689,447.Thus,intermsofpopulation changeinWC,onewouldexpectnotableshiftstobe largelystimulatedbyWC’surbanwesternboundary withstabilizinginfluencescomingfromWC’srural easternboundary.

BesidesWC’sproximitytoitsurbanandrural countyneighbors,twootherkeyfactorsaffectingWC populationgrowtharethepresenceofmajorhighway thoroughfareswhichpassthroughthemiddleofthe county.Firstandforemost,intercoastalInterstate 40fullybisectsWCeast/west.Second,Interstate 840anditsStateRoute109offshoottogetherbisect WCnorth/south.Intherecentdecade,thishighwaytriadofI40,I840androute109,togetherhave combinedtocreateaverypowerfulandexpanding economicengineandemploymentsourceofnationallyandgloballyprominentsupplychaincompanies andotherindustriesforWilsonCounty.

7 Disclaimer–WilsonCountyTrends’editorwasemployedbytheU.S.CensusBureauasanon-responsecensusenumeratorfor westernWilsonCounty,TNduringthe2020U.S.Census.

8 TheWilsonCounty,TNpopulationestimatesbasecount(asofApril1,2021)wasrevisedonJuly1,2021toapopulation estimateof151,917persons.Inthisreport,ouranalysisprimarilyusesthecensusbasecount.TheEstimatesBaseisthepopulation countorestimateusedasthestartingpointintheestimatesprocess,andwhichtypicallycorrespondswiththedateofthelatest decennialcensus.TheApril1,2020PopulationEstimatesbasemayreflectschangestothe2020Censuspopulationfromthe BoundaryandAnnexationSurvey(BAS)andothergeographicprogramrevisions,theapplicationofdisclosureavoidancetechniques, ortheincorporationofalternatedatasources.(source:U.S.CensusBureau)

9 WilsonCounty,TNispartoftheNashvilleMetropolitanStatisticalArea.TheNashvilleMSAisthe35thlargestmetroarea intheUnitedStates.WilsonCounty,TN’sclosegeographicproximitytometroNashville/DavidsonCountyprovidesamutually beneficialandcriticalconnectionbetweenurbanandexurbanareaeconomies.Intermsofregionaleconomicdevelopment,the “NashvilleEconomicMarket”iscomprisedoftensurroundingcontiguouscounties,includingWilsonCounty.TheNashvilleArea ChamberofCommerce’seconomicdevelopmentstrategyidentifiesfivetargetindustriestodrivetheNashvilleMSAeconomy.They arecorporateservices,healthcaremanagementandinformationtechnology,advancedmanufacturing,distribution&trade,and music&entertainment.Source:NashvilleRegionalEconomicDevelopmentGuide,January2022,Partnership2030,NashvilleArea ChamberofCommerce.

HomeConstructioninWilsonCounty,TN

PopulationDemographics

The2020U.S.CensusprovidesthefollowingsummarydemographicsonresidentsofWilsonCounty, TN.Byage,5.8%ofWCresidentsareundertheage of5years;23.3%areunder18years;16%are65 yearsorolder.Bygender,50.5%arefemale.By race,87.4%arewhitealone;7.8%areblackalone. Thereare8,996veteransthatresideinWC.Byinformationtechnology,94.1%ofWChouseholdshavea computerwith86.6%alsohavingabroadbandInternetsubscription.Byeducation,92%ofWCresidents aged25yearsorolderhaveahighschooldiplomaor higher;inthesameagegroup,34.8%possessabachelor’sdegreeorhigher.Bytransportation,forWC residentsaged16yearsorhigher,themeantravel timetoworkwas30.4minutes.The2020median householdincomeinWCis 78,962.

PopulationGrowthbyCensusTract

Togainabetterunderstandingofthepopulation changestakingplacewithinWilsonCounty,weexaminetheten-yearintra-countypopulationshiftsthat havetakenplacewithinWCcensustracts10 ,2010to 2020.

Duetosignificantpost-2010populationincreases inWC,especiallyintheLebanonandMt.Juliet cityareas,wenotethatthe21censustractsused inWilsonCounty’s2010census(seeMap1)were expandedto28tractsforuseinthe2020federal census(seeMaps3Aand3B).Tomaintaincomparablepopulationsizewithineachcensustract,WC’s five2010censustracts,locatedalongitsneighboring urbancountiesofDavidsonandSumner,weresplit, orsubdivided,andrenumberedastwelvenewcensus tractsinthe2020census,therebycreating28WC tractsthatwereusedinthe2020U.S.Census.Table1givesacompletelistofthe2010and2020censustractsandtractsplits,aswellasthepopulation countsandpercentchangesoccurringwithineach tract.Thetenyearpercentagepopulationchanges

showninthelastcolumnofTable1arealsoshown geographicallyinMap2.

ExceptforWCtract303.05locatedjustsouth ofHendersonville,whichlostanetof120persons, allother2010WCcensustractsexperiencedpopulationincreasestoyear2020.Notably,13ofWC’s21 censustractpopulationsgrewbydoubledigitpercentages.AsshowninMap1andTable1,fast growingwesternWC2010censustracts303.07and 309.01,bothborderingDavidsonCounty,weresubdividedinto6tractsforuseinthe2020U.S.census. Oftheotherthreesubdivided2010censustracts, wenotethatnorthernWCtracts301.01and302.04 borderSumnerCounty.Locateddirectlytotheeast oftracts303.07and309.01,censustract309.03experiencedacountyhighpopulationgrowthrateof 74%.Tract309.03islocatedinanespeciallyinterestingresidentialandcommercialcorridor,notonly borderingI-40andRutherfordCounty,butalsoencompassinganexpandedI-840/Route109alongits easternside.

VisuallyshowninMap2,withtheexceptionof WC’snorthwesternboundaryalongtheCumberland River,2010-2020doubledigitpercentpopulation growthoccurredonWC’sentireeasternside,startingatanimaginaryverticallinepassingthroughthe middleofLebanoncity.Goingeastfromtheline,we observemostlysingledigitpercentpopulationgrowth occurringtoWC’srural-sideeasternboundaries.

WCCensusTractDemographics

Table2reportsandcompares2020populationdemographicsamongindividualWCcensustractsas wellaswiththecountyandstateoverall.Atthe tablebottom,weseethatthemedianageofWilson CountyresidentsisslightlyhigherthanforallofTennesseeresidents(40.2vs38.8)thoughthepercentageofseniors(65yearsandolder)inWCisslightly less(15.6%vs.16.4%).ConfirmingWilsonCounty’s reputationasafairlyaffluentcounty,weobservethat

10 U.S.censustractsaresmall,relativelypermanentstatisticalsubdivisionsofacounty,uniquelynumberedineachcountywith anumericcode.Censustractsgenerallyaverageabout4,000inhabitants.Theboundariesofeachdesignatedtractencompass adesiredminimumpopulationof1,200andamaximumpopulationof8,000.ConstitutionallymandatedU.S.populationcensus countswithinallcensustractregionsoccureverytenyears.Whilecensustractsinstablepopulationareasareusuallyre-usedeach decade,censustractsmaybesplitormerged,dependingonpopulationchange,tostaywithinthedesiredsizerange.Ascensus tractsaredesignedtoberelativelypermanentovertime,anychangesaredocumentedsodatacanbecomparedfromdecadeto decade.Censustractswithmorethan8,000peoplearesplitinto2ormoretractsandaregivenanextensiontotheirexisting numericcode,Censustractswithlessthan1,200peoplearemergedwithaneighboringtractandaregivenanewnumericcode. (source:U.S.CensusBureau)

theoverallmedianhouseholdincomeofWCresidents ( 78,962)is44%higherthanforTennesseeresidents ( 54,833).FinancialwellbeingofthecountyissupportedbyWC’scomparativelyhigherpercentageof collegegraduates(34.8%vs28.2%)andhigheremploymentrate(63.2%vs57.9%).

Notsurprisingly,WC’skeydemographicsarenot uniformacrossthecounty.Reviewingpopulationdemographicsbyindividualcensustractsyieldsome interestingtractsimilaritiesanddifferences.Inregardtoage,wenotethatthemedianageofthe 7,775personsresidinginWCtract305is29.1years, representingtheyoungesttractresidenceinWilson County.Tract305islocatedinthenorthernareaof Lebanoncity,north/southbetweenHartmannDrive andWestBaddourParkwayandeast/westbetween CarverLaneandLover’sLane.Themedianageofthe 5,638personsresidingintract309.07istheoldest residenttractinWCat56.5years.Notsurprisingly, acountyhigh35.6%ofallresidentsintract309.07 wereaged65yearsandolder.Tract309.07islocated directlytothesouthofI-40,northofCentralPike andeastofLigonRoad.Tracts303.08and303.10 hadthelowestpercentageofseniorresidentsinWC withonly7.5%and9.4%,respectively.Bothtracts liejustwestofMt.JulietanddirectlyalongWC’s westernboundarywithDavidsonCounty.

Takingall2020censustractstogether,younger

residents(40yearsandless)ofWCareconcentrated inalltractsthatarepartofLebanoncityandalso alongWC’swesturbanboundarynearI-40tothe westernsideofMt.Juliet.MostofWCnorthof I-40overwhelminglyexhibitslowpercentagesofresidentsaged65yearsandolder(15%andless)save foracontiguous3-tract“seniorresidencestrip”consistingoftracts301.05,302.02and309.07,withsignificantseniorresidentpercentagesof25.5,44.0and 35.6,respectively.Wefurthernotethatthemedian ageofeasternMt.Juliet(tracts303.11and303.07) residentsismoresenior(48.1and56.5years,respectively)thanforthecountyoverall.

Inregardtohouseholdincome,WCresidentslivingintract303.10earnedacountyhighhousehold medianincomeof 111,978.Attheotherendofthe incomespectrum,WCresidentsintract307earned acountylowof 34,789.Tract307isbordered east/westbyPeytonRoadandWestBaddourParkwayandnorth/southbyRomePikeandI-40.Higher householdmedianincomes( 90,000andup)inWC arelocatedmainlyintractsalongRoute109/I-840 andgoingwestwardtoWC’swesturbanboundaries. LowermedianhouseholdincomesinWC( 80,000 andless)arelocatedintractsborderedbyState Route231andgoingeastwardtoWC’seasternrural boundary.

Inregardtoemployment,thepercentageofem-

ScenesfromtheWilsonCountyFair

Source:U.S.CensusBureau

Table1 -WilsonCoTNPopulationChanges,2010-2020byU.S.CensusTract

Sources:U.S.CensusBureau,columns2-4fromtheBureau’s2020DecennialCensus;columns5-7fromthe Bureau’sAmericanCommunitySurvey5-yearEstimates

Table2 -WilsonCoTN2020CensusTractDemographics

ployedWCresidentswashighestintract303.08at 76.6%.Thelowestemploymentratewas41.8%in tract309.07whichisnottoosurprisinginrecalling thattract309.07alsohadthehighestmedianage andpercentageofseniorresidents.WCemployment rates(65%andhigher)arefairlyuniformacrossthe county,includingtractslocatedinbothurbanand ruralareas.Therelativelyhighemploymentratesin ruraltracts309.07and310(68.5%and68.0%,respectively)likelyincludesomesignificantcommute activitytoplacesofemployment.

Inregardtohighereducation,acountyhigh 54.1%oftheWCresidentsoftract303.08heldbach-

elor’scollegedegreesandhigherwhereasacounty lowof14.2%oftract305residentsheld4yearcollegedegreesandhigher.Overall,weobservethat WCresidentspossessingthehighestpercentageof bachelor’sdegreesandhigher(45%andhigher)live intractsclosetoWC’surbaneastboundarieswith DavidsonandSumnerCounties.WCresidentspossessingthelowestpercentageofbachelor’sdegrees andhigher(40%andlower)liveintractsprimarily locatedintheeasternandnortheasternruralportions ofWC,aswellasalmostalltractslocatedsouthof I-40.

BusinessprogramsintheLabrySchool

CumberlandUniversity’sLabrySchoolofScience,Technology,andBusinessoffersanAssociateofArtsin Business;aBachelorofBusinessAdministrationwithmajorsinaccounting,businessadministration,health careadministration,management,marketing,projectmanagement,andsupplychainmanagement;aMasterofBusinessAdministration(MBA);aMasterofScienceinInformationTechnologyManagement;anda MasterofScienceinEngineeringManagement.ThebusinessprogramsareaccreditedbytheAccreditation CouncilforBusinessSchoolsandPrograms(ACBSP).Seewww.cumberland.eduformoredetails.

RequestsforWCTIssues

Requestsfor papercopies ofcurrentandpastWCTissuesshouldbedirectedtotheemailaddresswilsoncountytrends@cumberland.eduandincludeamailingaddress,organization,andcontactperson.

Digitalcopies ofWCTissuesmaybedownloadedorreadonlinebygoingtoCumberlandUniversity’s websitewww.cumberland.edu(clickon“Academics”andthenclickontheLabrySchoolentryunder“CUSchools”tofindtheWCTpublicationlist).WCTissuescanalsobeaccesseddirectlyby followingthelinkhttps://www.cumberland.edu/labry-school-of-science-technology-business/wilson-countytrends-publications/.

AvailableIssues:

Winter2023Issue -WilsonCounty(WC)economicdataandtrendgraphs;featurearticleonWCpublic venues;WCpublicvenueindustrywho’swho;featurearticleonWCpopulationgrowth;guestarticleson theFarmBureauExpositionCenterandtheMillatLebanon.

Fall2021issue -WilsonCountyeconomicdataandtrendgraphs;featurearticleonWC’shealthcareindustry;WChealthcareindustrywho’swho;guestarticleonVanderbiltWCHospital;guestarticleontelehealth trends.

Spring2020Issue -WilsonCountyeconomicdataandtrendgraphs;featurearticleonWC’sinformation technologyindustry;WCITindustrywho’swho;featurearticleonbroadbandInternetinWC;guestarticle ononlinemarketingstrategies.

Spring2019Issue -WilsonCountyeconomicdataandtrendgraphs;featurearticleonWC’ssupplychain (SC)industry;WCSCindustrywho’swho;guestarticleontaxreform.

Map1-2010WCCensusTracts

Source:U.S.CensusBureau

Map2-PercentageChangeinWCCensusTractPopulations,2010-2020

Source:U.S.CensusBureau

source:U.S.CensusBureau

source:U.S.CensusBureau

Map3A-2020WCCensusTracts(NorthSection)

Map3B-2020WCCensusTracts(SouthSection)

PublicVenuesinWilsonCounty

Introduction

Everyvibrantandhealthyregionaleconomyrequires anadequatesupplyofpublicvenuestosupportlocaleconomicandcommunitydevelopment.While thetermpublicvenuecanbevariouslydefined,in thisreportourfocusismainlyonpublicvenues orspaceswhichareusedforhostingin-doorpublic/privatemeetingsandevents.Examplesofpublic venuesincludeconventioncenters,dedicatedevent venues,publiccommonsareasofhospitalityservice providerssuchashotelsorrestaurants,andthepublicmeetingareasofrecreational,entertainment,or municipalorganizations.Thisarticleexaminesthe typesoffor-lease,for-rent,orprobonopublicvenue spacesavailableinWilsonCounty11

Publicvenuesoffervariousbenefitstolocalbusinessesandresidents.Fee-basedpublicvenuesare importantrevenue-generatorsforthelocaleconomy, offeringmulti-purposespacestohostinternalcorporatemeetings,customerexpos,andotherbusiness events.Publicvenuescansupporttheneedsoflocalcommunitiesandfamiliesbyofferinglocations forschoolevents,familyactivities,weddings,graduations,youthdevelopmentandrecreation,communityforums,localvoting,aswellasformanyother desirablecommunityactivities.Publicvenuesthat hosteventswithlargenumbersofnon-localattendees,suchasconventioncenters,cancontributesignificantlytothelocaltaxbaseaswellasprovide jobopportunitiestolocalresidents12 .Overall,public venuescanhelptocreateapositivepublicimageto outsiders,attractingtotheareanewbusinesses,new residents,andtax-payingtouristvisitors.

PublicVenuesinWilsonCounty

WilsonCountyishometoavarietyofveryscenic, spacious,andversatilepublicvenuesthatsupport communityand/orbusinessget-togethersofvarious types.Duetoitssomewhatuniquegeographyand location,thesupplyanddemandforpublicvenuesin WCismorepronouncedthaninmanymunicipalities. Thedemandforpublicvenuesisgrowing,inpart duetoWC’sincreasingpopulationsizeaswellasthe increasingnumberofcorporationswhichresideand operateinthecounty.AddingtothepotentialdemandarethelargenumberofneighboringNashville areacorporationsandorganizationslocatedjustout-

11 TherearethreearticlesonWCpublicvenuesinthisissueofWilsonCountyTrends.Thecurrentarticleprovidesageneral overviewandlistingofpublicvenuesinWilsonCounty.ThesecondpublicvenuearticledescribesandtellsthestoryofthepublicownedFarmBureauExpoCenter,WC’slargestconventionfacility.Thethirdpublicvenuearticledescribesandtellsthestoryof theprivate-ownedandhistoricMillatLebanon,are-purposedpublicvenueandretailcenter.

12 “NewresearchbytheEventsIndustryCouncil(EIC)hasconfirmedthatface-to-facemeetingsandeventsdeliversubstantial benefitstotheU.S.economybynotonlycontributing 446billioninGDPand 104billionoffederal,stateandlocaltaxes,but bysupporting5.9millionjobs.During2016,1.9millionmeetingswereattendedby251milliondelegates,enablingtheU.S.meetingssectortosupportmoredirectjobsthanthetelecommunicationsandoilandgasindustries.Ofthose251milliondelegates, sixmillioncamefromoutsidetheU.S.spending 38billion.Whilstthatonlyrepresentstwopercentofoverallmeetingattendees,theirspendrelatestoelevenpercentofmeetings-relatedspending.TheEICresearchestimatestheimpactofface-to-face meetingsasanadditional 1.60–or160percent–inbenefitsfortheU.S.economy.”Source:https://www.fcmtravel.com/enus/resources/insights/why-meetings-and-events-are-crucial-us-economy

sideofWC’swesternboundary,whomaypreferat timesalessurban,lesscostly,andmoreopenphysicalsettingforselectbusinessmeetingsorevents.

MtJulietChamberofCommerceMeetingRoom

Conversely,thesupplyofpublicvenuesinWCis fairlyhighdueinparttodecisionsofexistingorganizationstoaddonpublicvenuesasacomplementaryservicetotheirprimaryserviceofferings(e.g., hotelconferencerooms),aswellasthedecisionsof manysmallbusinessentrepreneurs(andsomelarge corporateowners)tolocateandbuildscenicdedicatedeventvenuesonWC’sagriculturallandsand alongsideitslakes,rivers,andhistoricareas.TheactivesupportofpublicpolicymakersinWilsonCounty governmentandtheurbanareasofLebanonandMt JuliethavealsoproventobeanimportantfactorfavorablyaffectingthegrowthofWC’spublicvenue industry.

Mt.JulietPublicLibrary

Table3providesapartiallistofWho’sWhoin WilsonCounty’spublicvenueindustry.WCpublicvenuesinclude:aconventionhall,manyhotelbasedmeetingfacilities,anagriculturalcenter,publiclibraries,achamberofcommerce,auniversity, dedicatedeventvenues,aswellasastatepark lodge/meetingcomplex.Belowaredescriptionsof someofthepublicvenuespacesinWilsonCounty.

WardAgriculturalCenterComplex

LeveragingWilsonCounty’surban-ruralgeography andproximitytoNashville,theWardAgricultural Center,locatedinLebanon,TN,providesthecounty withalargeversatilepublicvenueanchorcomplexcapableofhostingverylargetosmallscalepublicevents whilepreservingtheruralcharmofthesurrounding area.Thismunicipally-owned260-acrepropertyencompassesthreeflexible-usedestinations:theAgri-

LebanonWilsonCountyChamberofCommerceMeetingRooms

culturalComplex,theWilsonCountyExpositionCenter(seeseparatearticle),andFiddlersGroveHistoric Village.Together,thesepropertieshostover1millionvisitorsannually.WellknownacrossTennessee, theWardAgriculturalCenterisalsohometothenationallyacclaimedWilsonCountryFair,thelargest countyfairinTennessee13 whichsetafairattendance recordin2022.The2021relocationoftheTennessee StateFairtoWilsonCountyhasresultedinamutuallybeneficialeconomicpartnershipbetweenWilson CountyandtheStateofTennesseeintermsofadded conventionfacilitysupportfortheWardAgricultural Complex.https://wilsoncountyfairgrounds.com/

TheMillatLebanon

TheMillatLebanon,formerlyknownasLebanon WoolenMills,arehistoricindustrialbuildingslocated inLebanon,Tennessee.Builtin1909byDrHoward K.Edgertonasamanufactureroftextileproducts, thefacilitycloseddownin1998.DesignedbyFrancisB.Warfield&AssociatesintheColonialRevival architecturalstyle,theMillatLebanoniscurrently listedontheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces.In theyearswhichfolloweditsclosing,theMilltransitionedfromamanufacturingcomplextoamixeduse retail,officespaceandpublicvenuefacility.Seethe separatearticleontheMillatLebanonwhichfollows. https://www.themillatlebanon.com/

EdgertonHall,TheMillatLebanon

Venue142attheArcade

LocatedonhistoricLebanonSquare,Venue142, islocatedinsidealargeearlytwentiethcentury buildingcomplexknownastheArcade.In2016, atop-to-bottomrenovationwascompletedofthe 113yearoldfacility,focusingonthepreservation ofthebuilding’shistoricalredbrickarchitectural detail.Venue142iscurrentlyamulti-usepublic areainsidetheArcadethatseatsupto120people. https://www.venue142.com/

TheEstateatCherokeeDock

TheEstateatCherokeeDockisascenicevent spaceandweddingvenuelocatedalongRoute109 inWilsonCounty.Originallybuiltin1960,alarge southerncolonialstylemansionsitsatthecenter ofa15acreproperty.Itismostwidelyrecognizedastheformerhomeofaward-winningartist, actor,andauthorRebaMcEntire.In2017,Cherokee Dockopeneditsdoorsasarepurposedeventvenue. https://www.cherokeedock.com/

TheEstateatCherokeeDock,LebanonTN

CapitolTheater

LocatedclosetohistoricLebanonTownSquare,the originalCapitolTheaterwasbuiltin1949asaconventionalmovietheaterandhassincebeenrenovated andrepurposedintoanelegantmulti-purposecommunitycenterofferingavarietyofpublicvenueservicesforprivateandpublicevents,livetheatreand

13 TheWilsonCountyFairmergedin2021tobecometheco-hostpublicvenuefortheTennesseeStateFair. Formoreinformation,seehttps://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/wilson/2021/08/13/tennessee-state-wilson-countyfair-attendees-merger/5539219001/andhttps://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/2022-wilson-county-tennessee-state-fair-reachesrecord-breaking-attendance/.

musicentertainment,movieviewings,andotheractivities.http://capitoltheatretn.com/

CapitalTheater

HotelPublicVenues

Therearenumeroushotelsandmotelslocatedalongsidethemajorhighwaythoroughfareswhichpass throughWilsonCounty(I40,I840andRoute109). Asmanylargebusinessesarealsolocatedalongthese samehighwayareas,manyhotels/motelsinWCalso offerformalmeetingspacesandservicesforbusiness events.Someofthesehospitalitymeetingspacesare fairlylarge.Mt.Juliet’sHiltonTru,forexample,can accommodateupto400people.

HamptonInnatLebanon

ScenicNaturePublicVenues

Popularforweddings,aswellasforcorporateretreatsandspecialbusinessevents,manydedicated eventvenuesarelocatedinattractiveopenfarmlandandlakesidenaturesettings,especiallyinthe easternhalfofWilsonCounty.Whilemostareprivatelyowned,somepublicownedpublicmeeting venuesalsoexistinthecounty.CedarsofLebanon StatePark,forexample,offerspicturesqueparkbasedlodgesthataredesignedtohostbothformal andinformalpublic/privateeventsofvariouskinds.

TheArcadeatLebanonSquare(Exterior,Interior)

TheWardAgriculturalCenterandtheJimmyFloyd FamilyCenterarealsopubliclyownedlocalvenues. AmongprivatelyownedscenicpublicvenuesinWilsonCountyareEverlastingPond,Iriswoods,Legacy Farms,TerianFarmsEventCenter,Tucker’sGap EventCenter,WildTurkeyRanch,andothers.

CedarsofLebanonStateParkAssemblyHall

Tucker’sGapEventCenter,Lebanon

TerianFarms

WildTurkeyRanchReceptionRoom

EverlastingPond,Watertown

LegacyFarms,Lebanon

Iriswoods,Mt.Juliet

CumberlandUniversity

OneofWilsonCounty’soldestanduniqueinstitutions,whichhaslongservedasacommunityorientedpublicvenue,isCumberlandUniversitylocatedinLebanon,TN.CUhashostedavarietyof groupsandpubliceventsonits44acre,70+building,campusthroughoutits180yearhistory,many eventsofwhicharenotablyhistoricinnature14 CUservesWilsonCountybymakingitsmeeting spacesavailabletoawidevarietyofcivicandbusinessgroups,foreventsrangingfromcommunityforums,distinguishedspeakerseries,electionpolitical debates,youthdevelopmentandsportscamps,charityfundraisingevents,privatebusinessevents,corporatetraining,economicdevelopment,andmore. VenueavailabilityandeventschedulingatCumberlandUniversityarebasedinpartontheUniversity academiccalendar.Feesversusprobonoarrangementsvarybasedoneventtype,costandsponsors.Besidesnumerousclassroomandsmallconferencemeetingareasthatvaryinsizefrom20to60 seats,popularrequestedlargegroupmeeting/event spacesonCU’smaincampusinclude:historicMemorialHall’sBairdChapel,LabryHallTieredClassroom,HeydelFineArtsCenterandAlumniHall. https://www.cumberland.edu/

BairdChapelinMemorialHall

TieredClassroominLabryHall

HeydelFineArtsCenter

AlumniHallAuditorium

NameSize(SqFt)SeatMaxLocaleType

FarmBureauExpoCenter790007000LebConventionHall

JamesE.WardAgriculturalCtr135001200LebAgriculturalCtr

CumberlandUniversity*13433920LebUniversity

TuckersGapEventCenter13000300LebEventVenue

TheMillatLebanon125001000LebEventVenue

LegacyFarms8000350LebEventVenue

EstateCherokeeDock4412300LebEventVenue

HiltonTru4400400MJHotel

CedarsofLebanonParkLodge4350325LebStatePark

TheWildTurkeyRanch3500125LebEventVenue

Iriswoods3200150MJEventVenue

Courtyard3195280MJHotel

BillyGoatRetreat250090LebEventVenue

TheEverlastingPond2400200WtnEventVenue

TerianFarmsEventCenter2400200LebEventVenue

TheArcade/Venue1422083120LebEventVenue

CapitolTheater1829450LebTheaterStage

HolidayInnExpress163550LebHotel

MtJulietPublicLibrary1610100MJPublicLibrary

ComfortSuites1568165LebHotel

Ramada1500100LebHotel

ResidenceInn1500165MJHotel

LebanonWilsonCoChamber140064LebChamber

HolidayInnExpress129680MJHotel

JimmyFloydCenter120080LebHealthFitnessCtr

MtJulietChamberofCommerce120040MJChamber

HamptonInn&Suites1040100MJHotel

DaysInn96075LebHotel

HamptonInn&Suites93670LebHotel

CedarValleyInn84040LebHotel

FairfieldInn79860LebHotel

QualityInn&Suites77081MJHotel

ComfortSuites57661MJHotel

SleepInn&Suites45050LebHotel

WatertownPublicLibrary30020WtnPublicLibrary

*CUBairdChapelinMemorialHall2714200LebUniversity

*CULabryTieredClassroom2232140LebUniversity

*CUHeydelFineArtsCenter2312230LebUniversity

*CUAlumniHallAuditorium6175350LebUniversity

Table3: Who’sWhoinWilsonCountyTN’sPublicVenues

GuestArticle:

FarmBureauExpoCenter

PhillipLacey ismedia&marketingmanagerfortheFarmBureauExpoCenter.OriginallyfromChincoteague,VA,hereceivedaB.S.C.andanM.F.AfromtheUniversity ofMiamiinCoralGablesFlorida.Heisalsoafreelancewriter/filmmakerandadjunctfilmprofessorforVolunteerStateCommunityCollege.A2019alumnimember ofLeadershipWilson,PhillipservedontheboardfortheWilsonCountyHelpCenter andhasproducedvideoprogrammingforFiddler’sGrove,HabitatforHumanity,and theLebanonSeniorCenter.PhillipandhiswifemovedtoWilsonCountyin2013.In hisfreetime,heenjoysplayingguitar,playingtennis,andreading.

IfyoutakeI-40EastthroughWilsonCountyand getoffatexit239-B,innotimeyouwillcomeupon theJamesE.WardAgriculturalCenterandtheFarm BureauExpoCenter(FBEC)thatresidejustpast thecomplexes’maingate.Formanyattendees,the FBEChasbecometheiconiccenterpointoftheWilsonCounty/TennesseeStatefairwhichhasutilized theFBEC’s79,000squarefoot,multi-useeventspace foramyriadofdisplaysandactivitiessinceitsopeninginNovember2016.

“Youguysdon’tdomuchoutsideofthefair,

right?”isaquestionoftenechoedbylocalswhen speakingtomembersoftheExpostaff.Whilethe County/StateFairmaywellbethefirsteventthat comestomindformanyWilsonCountyresidents, theCounty/StateFairrepresentsonlyoneoftheone hundredandsixty-fiveeventsthathavetakenplace orareplannedfor2022.Thisnumberexceedsthe expectationsofthosewhostillclingtothe“communitycenter”rootsonceenvisionedastheFBEC’s mainfunctionandspeakswelltothe“adoption”of theFBECasagenuinevenueforeventsoriginatingacrossthestateandaroundthecountry.Gayle HellemnisFEBC’sDirectorofMarketingandEvents.

FBEC’sSizeandComponents

TheFarmBureauExpoCenterconsistsofthreedistinctlydifferentspaces.Themainexhibithall(MEH) isover45,000Sq.Ftofopenconcreteflooringwith aceilingthatpeaksataheightjustoverfiftyfeet. TheMEHhasoneavailablepartitionthatcanseparatethespaceintotwo22,500sq.fthalves.With aloadingdockaswellasastreetlevelrollupdoor, theMEHcanhandlenearlyanytypeofvehiclethat someonewouldwanttoeitherunloadorhaveondisplay.InstarkcontrasttotheMEH’swideopenand industrialaccoutermentsthe7,000carpetedsquare

FBECMainExhibitHallFrontEntrance

footageofSouthHall(SH)isaperfectcomplement withitsrefinedandfinishedd´ecor.Two3,200sq.ft eventspaces,orfour1,600sq.ftrooms,areavailable withsixairwallpartitionsifyourequireconcurrent multiplemeetingspaceswithinthesameconvention styledhall.

Thestrikinglypaintedfloorofthe7,000sq.ft maincorridorcompletesthetrioofspaceswithinthe buildingandservesasmorethanjustapassageway connectingSHtotheMEH.Themaincorridoritself isapicturesqueentrancethatwelcomesallvisitorsto thisuniquevenuewhileoftenservingasashowcase forvendorsandfoodkiosks.FormanyTennessee eventplannersaswellasplannersacrossthenation, theFarmBureauExpoCenterisoneofthemosteconomicandfriendlyvenuesinthecountryaccounting for279rentaldaysforwhichthefacilitywasbooked in2022.

ASecretinPlainSight

Aboutsixty-sixpercentoftheExpo’s2022events wereprivateevents.Themajorityofthepublicornationaleventsin2022,e.g.,Anime/comics, Carshows,ExoticPets,Dance/Talentcompetitions, Wrestling/Grappling,Sewing/Quilt,Scrapbooking, etc.,cateredtospecificinterestgroups.

In2022,theFBECwillbeworkingwithonehundredandtendifferenteventplannerswhoareresponsiblefororganizingtheonehundredandsixty-five separateevents15 beingheldinatleastoneofthe spaceswithinthemainbuilding.Eventsin2022will takeup279oftheyear’s365daysleavingonly86 daysforanytypeofmaintenance,expansion,orremodeling,nottomentiontimeoffforthestaffofsix, thatworktomaintainthefacility.

BusinessesinWilsonCountyandsurroundingareasutilizetheFBECfortheiroff-sitemeetings,training,andcustomerappreciationevents.Anobjective forthecomingyearistoincreaselocalbusinessusageofFBECfacilitiesintermsofrentaldaysand theamountofsquarefootagerented.In2022,WilsonCountyeventsaccountedfor33percentofthe eventtotal,butonlyelevenpercentofthetotalspace rented.ComparethosenumberstoFBEC’s2022Nationaleventclientelewhichaccountedfor18percent oftheeventtotalbutwereresponsiblefor41percent oftheyear’stotalrentedspace.Thelocalcommunityhasyettoembracethefullpotentialthatthe FBEChastoofferintermsoflocationalconvenience andbetterpricingthannearbyNashvillecitypublic venues.

HiddenImpact

WhileitwouldbenicefortheFBECtohostlarger locallysponsoredevents,currentlyitisthenationaleventswiththeiroverthree-dayaverageevent lengthsthatreallyserveandfinanciallyimpactWilsonCounty.Theaveragesupportteammemberwill typicallyrequirearoomforaminimumoffournights aswellasatleasttwomealsfortheirfivedaysof eventsetup,theeventitself,andthenteardownafter theeventcloses.Whenthesizeofnationaleventsupportteamsreachdoubledigits,theeconomicimpact oftheseevent-basedworkersonorhotels,restaurants,andgasstationsinWilsonCountybecomes

FBECMainExhibitHallWest(1500seatrow arrangement)

FBECSouthHallA&B(tablearrangement)

15 ”Event”isdefinedheretorefertoanactivitybyanoutsideentity,rentingspaceandrequiringsupervisionbyatleastoneexpo employees.

significant.Whenyoubeginaddingthelargenumber ofparticipants,guestsandattendeesoftheseshows oftencomingfromotherstates,seekingatleasta singlenight’saccommodation,onehundredandone daysofnationaleventsaccountforasizablecumulativelocaleconomicimpact.

TheFBEChasanotherdirectimpactwithlocalbusinessesthroughitspreferredpartnerprogram whichgrantsexclusiverightstoparticipantstoprovidefoodandbeverageservicesforFBEChosted events.OpenenrollmentisheldannuallyinNovemberprovidinglocalbusinesstheopportunitytobe addedortodropoutoftheprogramfortheupcomingyear.TheFBECpublishesalistingofallpartnersontheirwebsiteaswellasincludingtheminthe eventhandbookthatisgiventoeveryeventplannerwiththeunderstandingthatthesearetheonly businesses,theyareallowedtouseduringtheirevent attheFBEC.Whilethisprogramhasbeenasuccess,duringNovember’sopenenrollment,theFBEC islookingforwardtowelcomingadditionalproviders totakeadvantageofthispartnershipfor2023and beyond.

2022StatisticalBreakdown

MarchandApril2022werethebusiestmonthswith 18eventseachwhileJanuaryandNovemberwerethe leastbusywithonly9separateeventseach.In2022 thelongestperiodofconsecutiveeventdaysforstaff todatewasforty-fourstraightdaysofoccupancy. Thelongestperiodofconsecutivedayswithoutan eventwasfourteendaysencompassingtheprevious ChristmasandNewYearholidays,representing16%

ofourtotaldarkdaysfortheyear.SeeFigureG1. 54eventsoriginatedfromWilsonCountyfor78 days.WCeventsrented1,666,288SqFt.ofevent spaceaveraging21,362SqFt.perdayand30,857 SqFt.perevent.Thelengthofeachcountyevent averaged1.4daysperevent.80eventsoriginatedin Tennessee,outsideofWilsonCounty,for147days. Tennesseeeventsrented7,323,168SqFt.ofevent spaceaveraging49,817SqFt.perdayand91,539 SqFt.perevent.Thelengthofeacheventaveraged outto1.83daysperevent.31eventsoriginated outsideofTennesseefor101rentaldays.National eventsrented6,186,308SqFt.ofeventspaceaveraging61,250squarefeetperdayand199,558SqFt. perevent.Eacheventaveragedoutto3.3daysper event.SeeFigureG2.

LargereventscalesrequiremoreFBECresources. 90%oftheNationaleventsrentedtheentireMain ExhibitHallortheentirebuildingwhile17%ofWilsonCountyeventsand31%ofTennesseeevents rentedthesameamountofspace.75%ofWilson Countyeventsrenteither , orallofSouthHall. 66%oftheeventsheldintheFarmBureauExpo Centerareprivateevents.46%ofoureventstook placeconcurrentlywithothereventsbeingheld.

FuturePlans

Asthefalsespecterofdistanceandinconvenience meltsaway,theFBEChasfounditselfintheunique positionofsigningmultiyearcontractsforhosting someofNashville’spremiumeventsformerlyheld intheheartofmusiccity.TheFBEC’spolicyof afairsinglepricestructureversusthe“alacarte”of

FBECMainExhibitHallWest-table(left)vsexhibitor(right)arrangements

FigureG1 -FBECNumberofEvents&DarkDaysbyMonth(2022)

FigureG2 -FBECNumberofEventDays&SquareFootageRented(2022)

metrovenueshasbecomearefreshingsellingpoint formanyofNashville’splanners.Combinethisnononsensepricingpolicywithfreeparkingandeven thestaunchesttraditionalorganizationsareviewing theFBECasaseriouscontenderfortheireventdollars.

WhileFBEC’s2022successdoesn’tguarantee futuresuccess,theoverwhelmingpositivefeedback fromthosewhohaveutilizedthefacilitiesprovides hopeforabrightfuture.Foravenuethatwillbe celebratingitssixthbirthdayinNovember2022,the FBEChasestablisheditselfasadestinationforamultitudeoflocalandnationalevents.Currentlythere areEighty-eighteventsreturningorarebookedfor 2023withfifty-fiveeventsbookedin2024andover fortyfor2025.

Severaltouringnationaleventsareonawaiting listinhopesthatathree-orfour-dayweekendbe-

comesopenwithenoughtimeforthemtoadjust theirtouringschedulesandadLebanon/Nashvilleon theircalendar.Marketingeffortsarebeingfocusedon business-to-businessopportunitieswithahopethat localleadersandorganizationscantakeadvantage ofthehome-grownresourcesadorningtheeastside ofWilsonCounty.

Statementsfromeventplannerssuchas“We havehadthepleasureofworkingwithFarmBureau ExpoCenterforseveralyearsandtheircustomerserviceisaboveandbeyondanyothervenuewehave dealtwith.Wehaveneverbeentreatedasifwewere justanotherdollartothem.Theirentirestaffisexcellenttoworkwith.“Illustratesthequalityofthe customerserviceandthefacilityasawhole.Itisa testamenttothehardworkofthestaffthatisrewardedbyeventsreturningyearafteryear.Wehope toseeyousoonattheExpo.

Table4: Busiestmonthsbasedondayswithzerooccupancyoutsideofstaffing(Dark)

GuestArticle:

TheMillatLebanon

CurtisAGibbs,Jr. isownerofTheMillatLebanon,nowamixed-usefacilityand publicvenue.CurtisattendedGMIEngineering&ManagementInstitute(1975)and HarvardBusinessSchool(1994)becomingaGeneralMotorsExecutive.Curtisand hisfamilymovedtoTennesseewhenhewaschargedwiththe1990launchofthe SaturnPlantinSpringHillTN.UponleavingGMhebecametheSeniorVPofIndian MotorcycleCompany.Curtishasalwaysbeeninterestedinhistoricpropertiesdoinghis firstrestorationin1975.Includedamonghismanypastrestorationprojectsarea1920’s autodealership,theCommonsinSpringHillTN,theArtisanCampusinFranklinTN andsince2005,theMillatLebanon.

“ThestoryoftheLebanonWoolenMillsisthestoryofawoolenthread.Athreadthathasentwineditself intotheheartsandlivesofthousandsofpersons;onethathasboundthepeopleofLebanontogetherthrough prosperityanddepression,throughgladnessandsorrow.”

–Excerptfromthe50thAnniversaryYearbook1958

TheMillatLebanonwasoriginallyconstructed in1908bythenewlyformedLebanonWoolenMills andislocatedindowntownLebanon,Tennesseeon approximately15acres.Itpresentsitselfasavenue withmuchhistoryandcharm.Theoriginalowners oftheLebanonWoolenMillschosethecurrentloca-

tiontotakeadvantageofthenewlyconstructedTennesseeandChattanoogarailroadwhichranthrough downtownLebanon.Themainpurposeofthemill wastoproduceblanketsfromwoolwhichcontinueduntil1953whenacrylicfiberreplacedthenatural wool.ItisnowadjacenttotheMusicCityStarrail

stationandisborderedontheSouthandtheWest bySinkingCreek.TennesseeCentralrailroadtracks andNorthMapleStreetborderTheMillontheeast andsouthwithresidentiallotsadjacentonthenorth.

StartUp

Whilehopingtoprofitpersonallyfromtheenterprise, TheMillfounderDr,HowardK.Edgerton,Sr.also sawTheMillasaplaceofregularemploymentfor thepeopleofLebanon16 .Byusinglocallyproduced wool,hecreatedamarketplaceforfarmersinthe area.WilsonCountyTN,infact,heldthelargest numberofsheepofanycountyinTennesseein1910. Thesheeppopulationremainedsteadyintothemid20thcentury.

Dr.EdgertonincorporatedLebanonWoolenMills in1908withthehelpofcapitalfromlocalbusinessmen,TheMillhaditsfirstmeetingonDecember

31st,1908andDr.Edgertonwaselectedpresident. Aninitial 60,000capitalinvestmentwasraisedlocallywithanadditional 40,000instocksoldin 1910.TheLebanonWoolenMillspurchasedtheinitiallandtobuildthefactoryin1909andimmediatelyproceededtoconstructtheearliestportionof thefactory.Throughouttheyears,additionaladjacentparcelswereacquired.Furtheradditionstothe buildingcontinueduntil1972.Intheearlydaysofoperation,localfarmersbroughttheirsheepontoThe Millgroundstohavethemsheared.TheMillshipped itsfirstblanketsinJanuary1910.Allfortyemployees livedinDistrict10,Ward4,onstreetsadjoiningThe Mill,mostlikelyincompanyhousing.

WartimeService

In1912,Dr.Edgertonwasnolongerphysicallyable toruntheoperationandhisbrotherJohnEdgerton becamepresident.Heremainedpresidentuntil1938 whenHoward,Sr.’ssonHowardKEdgerton,Jr.becamepresident.Itwasalsoin1938thatasalesofficewasestablishedinNewYorkCity.In1941,the NewYorkCitysalesofficesecuredacontractwith theUnitedStatesgovernmenttoproduceblankets fortheU.S.ArmedServices.ShortlyaftertheattackonPearlHarbor,thefederalgovernmentfenced offthefacility2andbroughtinguardstoensurean uninterruptedsupplyofblankets.Allemployeeswere fingerprintedandgivensecuritybadges.

By1943,productionescalatedto450,000blanketsperyear.Atthewar’send,TheMillreceived theprestigiousArmyNavyEawardforqualityfrom PresidentFranklinD.Roosevelt.

AnewofficewasconstructedontheLebanonsite in1947,whichwenowrefertoasTheSuites.Asa majorcustomerofTheMill,Americanbusinessman andentrepreneurJamesCash(JC)Penneyattended andwasthekeynotespeakerattheopeningceremony.In1950,ElmerHahnbecamepresident.

ThemanagementandemployeesoftheLebanon WoolenMillswereaverycloseknitgroup.Each workdaywasstartedwithaprayer.Religiousservices wereconductedeachSundayatTheMilluntil1950 whenthepracticewasdisbandedtoencourageem-

16 EdgertonfamilymemberswereveryprominentintheLebanon/Nashvilleregion.InadditiontoDr.Edgerton’sdistinguished servicetotheLebanoncommunityandlocaleconomy,hisbrotherJohnEmmettEdgertonattendedprepschoolandhisfirstyearof collegeatCumberlandUniversity.JohnlaterwenttoVanderbiltUniversitywherehewascaptainoftheuniversity’s1901football team.Asanindustrialistofnationalprominence,JohnalsoservedaspresidentoftheNationalAssociationofManufacturersfrom 1921to1931.

TheMill’sDoubleGrandStaircase

ployeestojoinandsupportareacongregations.Civic involvementinthecommunitywashighlyencouraged bymanagement,andmaleemployeesweremembers ofallcivicclubsinLebanon.

Busy1950s

1953sawacrylicfiberevolving,andtheLebanon WoolenMillswasoneofthefirsttextilemillstoconvertfromwooltoacrylicfiberproduction.Thetransitionwasrelativelyeasyastheexistingproduction equipmentwasadapted.Throughoutthetransition fromwooltoacrylic,Millemployeeswereoftenconsultedbyothermillsastheyconvertedtheiroperations.In1959,employmentatTheMillreached400 workers,producing1,500,000blanketsperyear.

ChangesinOwnership

1963wasatransitionalyearfortheLebanonWoolen MillswiththedeathofHowardKEdgerton,Jr3.At thattime,agroupofthetopfivemanagerscollectivelypurchasedcontrollinginterestintheoperation. TheywereElmerHahn,HenryCounts,CharlesBaird, LeonardBallard,andGraydonRobinson.Duringthis period,productioncenteredonthemanufactureof electricblankets,stadiumrobes,babyblankets,and throws.OurmajorcustomersatthetimewereJC PenneyandSears.

TheMillownershipchangedhandsagaininthe mid-1960swhenstockwastransferredtoayounger groupof10managers.Majoritystakeholdersin thecompanyincludedSamSwindle,H.DeanGrier, DorisGarrett,BobbyJoeMorris,andJimmyCrawfordwhileBrianMiller,KennethTaylor,JerryBeatty, andRonaldWoodenheldminorityinterest.During theseownershiptransitions,thecompanyassumed debtforthefirsttimeandinterestpaymentscontributedsignificantlytothefirstannuallossin1979. Duetotheunprofitablesituation,bonuseswerenot given,anddisgruntledemployeesbeganaunionizationeffortwiththeAmalgamatedClothingandTextileWorkersUnion.Althoughthiseffortwasunsuccessful,thecompanyeventuallybecameunionizedin 1984.TransitionoftheLebanonWoolenMillscontinueduntil1982whenHenryHancock,abusinessmanfromNewYork,purchasedthecompanyand continuedtoacceleratetheaccumulationofdebt. Hancock’sactionsdidlittletoimproveprofitability andemployeesatisfaction.

In1984SpencerHayesofBrentwood,TNalong withagroupofseveninvestorspurchasedTheMill, invested 4millioninnewmachinery,andsuccessfullyachievedprofitability.Thenamewaschangedto TennesseeWoolenMillsandby1988,salesreached 10million.In1988,productdistributionsoccurred throughprivatelabels,10%throughMacy’s,JCPenney,andLand’sEndcatalogsalesand40%through suchmassmerchandisersasWalmartandKmart. Theremaining20%ofproductionwasinstitutional.

ShutDown

In1993,salesreached 12millionwithworkforcesize at270people.Alsoin1993,afinalcompanyownershiptransferoccurredwhenPillowtexpurchased theoperation,andthecompanynamewasofficially changedtoTennesseeWoolenMills,adivisionofPillowtexCorporation.Pillowtexthenconsolidatedits operationsanditsLebanonfacilityeliminateddueto structuralandgeographicchangesinthetextileindustry.TheMillwasshutteredin1998.

FollowingisaninternalmemowrittenbyTrudy LehewthatwasdistributedonJanuary21st,1998 justasTheMillwasclosing.

TENNESSEEWOOLENMILLS InterofficeMemorandum

ALetterFromThisBuildingCalled“Tennessee WoolenMills”

Good-byemyfriends.I’llmissyouallso.They’re closingmydoorsandsoonyoumustgo.I’llrememberthetimeswe’vesharedtogether,we’ve seenblueskiesandsomestormyweather.You’ve patchedmeuptokeepmealive,butagainstcorporategreed,Icouldnotsurvive.Likeothersmall factoriesI’veseenmybestdays.Totherestof theworldI’lljustfadeinahaze.Iamaslumberinggiantwithnovoicetospeak,onlysqueaking doorsandaroofthatleaks.ButifIcouldspeak, ohthethingsIwouldsay,like“don’tclosemy doors”and“don’tsendthemaway”.SonowI tellyoudon’tcryforme,whoknowswhattomorrowmaybe.Myhallswillforeverechoyour laughter.Yourfondmemorieswilllingerhereeverafter.GOOD-BYEDEARFRIENDS

RebirthandRenewal

Afterbeingidleforafewyears,theMillwaspurchasedbyanoutofstateinvestorwhosoldoffmost oftheequipmentandbegananadaptivereuseeffort. In2005TheMillchangedhandsagain.Thecurrent ownerofthepropertycontinuesthegoalofadaptingthecomplexintoamixed-use,retail,restaurant, residential,officeprojectcalledTheMillatLebanon whilepreservingasmuchofthehistoricfabricaspossible.TheMillatLebanonwasplacedontheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesin2007.Itistoday avenuewithmuchcharacterandanimposingfeel.

TheMillatLebanoncontinuesitsredevelopmentphaseasanadaptivereuseproject,andiscurrentlyenteringintoitssecondphaseofredevelopment.Thereareanumberoffulltimetenantsas wellasover100eventsthattakeplacethroughout theyear.Since2007,TheMill’seventsbusinesshas grown,Therearecurrently4mainpublicvenueevent spaces.

EdgertonHall

EdgertonHallisTheMill’slargesteventspace, namedaftertheoriginalowner,with13000square feetofspace,astage,built-in-bar,loadingdock,and kitchen.Itisoneofthemoremodernspacesand lendsitselftoavarietyofdecoratingoptions.Itcan handleupto1500people,andhashostedanumberofconcertswhichhaveincludedAlisonKrause, GretchenWilson,GarthBrooks,andanumberof otherwellknownperformers.Itistheperfectspace forcorporatemeetings,tradeshows,andlargeparties.

TheAtrium

TheAtriumisaoneofakindeventspaceconsisting of8,064squarefeetontwolevelswithadramatic doublestaircasethatisoftenusedforceremonies. TheAtriumcanaccommodate450peopleandis quitepopularforweddings,ceremonies,andother socialandcorporateevents.Itisinthemosthistoricallypreservedbuildingonsiteandincludesoriginal brickwalls,oldgrowthstructuralcolumns,andsteel factorywindows.

TheLoft

TheLoftisthesecondfloorareaoftheAtriumand complimentsanyeventwiththesoftwarmglowof hundredyearoldnaturalcedar.TheLoftcanaccommodateupto300people.Itisoftenusedin itsownright.Itis6700sqftofhardwoodflooring accommodatingsmallereventswithamoreintimate feel.

TheMarketplace

Thesmallestandnewestspace,2400squarefeet,is called“TheMarketplace”accommodatinguptoone hundredguestsforaparty,rehearsaldinner,smaller weddings,andceremonies,andisoftenusedforcorporatebreak-outroomsandmeetings.

EdgertonHall,setforcommunityevent

TheAtrium,setforaLasVegasEvent

TheSuites

Inaddition,TheSuitesBuilding,3900squarefeet, hasbeenrecentlyrenovatedandprovidesbeautiful bridalsuitesandseparategroomsmansuites.Italso

accommodatescorporatebreakoutspacesinaseparateareawithinthebuilding.Thisisperhapsthe mostluxuriousbridalandgroomsmensuitesinthe middleTennesseearea.

AppreciationandThanks areexpressedtoCUfacultyandstaff,aswellasotherindividualsandorganizationsfortheirgeneralsupportandformaterialsusedinthisreport.Inparticular,wewouldliketo thanktheTennesseeDepartmentofEconomic&CommunityDevelopmentandtheTennesseeDepartment ofRevenue.

TheLastWord

Asalesrep,anadministrationclerk,andthemanagerarewalkingtolunchwhentheyfindanantiqueoil lamp.TheyrubitandaGeniecomesout.TheGeniesays,‘I’llgiveeachofyoujustonewish.’‘Mefirst! Mefirst!’saystheadminclerk.‘IwanttobeintheBahamas,drivingaspeedboat,withoutacareinthe world.’Puff!She’sgone.‘Menext!Menext!’saysthesalesrep.‘IwanttobeinHawaii,relaxingonthe beachwithmypersonalmasseuse,anendlesssupplyofPinaColadasandtheloveofmylife.’Puff!He’s gone.‘OK,you’reup,’theGeniesaystothemanager.Themanagersays,‘Iwantthosetwobackinthe officeafterlunch.’

Moralofthestory:Alwaysletyourbosshavethefirstsay.

TheLoft,arrangedforareception

WilsonCountyTrends

ACumberlandUniversityPublicationfromthe LabrySchoolofScience,Technology,andBusiness

1CumberlandSquare

LebanonTN,37087

ListofFiguresandTables

RecentTrendGraphs

FigureR1-NumberofBusinessEstablishmentsinWilsonCounty,TN,2011-2021..................................3

FigureR2-NumberofPersonsEmployedbyPrivateBusinessinWilsonCounty,TN,2011-2021....................3

FigureR3-AverageWeeklyWageforPersonsEmployedbyPrivateBusinessinWilsonCounty,TN,2011-2021......4

FigureR4-NumberofEstablishmentsinWilsonCounty,TNbyNAICSIndustrySector,2017vs2021..............5

FigureR5-NumberofPersonsEmployedinWilsonCounty,TNbyNAICSIndustrySector,2017vs2021...........6

FigureR6-AverageWeeklyWageinWilsonCounty,TNbyNAICSIndustrySector,2017vs2021..................7

FigureR7-MonthlyRetailSalesinWilsonCounty,TN,2021.....................................................8

FigureR8-MonthlyRetailSalesbyCategoryinWilsonCountyTN,2021..........................................8

FigureR9-MonthlyRetailSalesbyCategoryinWilsonCountyTN,2017-2021....................................9

GuestArticleGraphs

FigureG1-FBECNumberofEvents&DarkDaysbyMonth(2022).............................................29

FigureG2-FBECNumberofEventDays&SquareFootageRented(2022)......................................29

Tables

Table1-WilsonCoTNPopulationChanges,2010-2020byU.S.CensusTract....................................14

Table2-WilsonCoTN2020CensusTractDemographics.......................................................15

Table3-Who’sWhoinWilsonCountyTN’sPublicVenues......................................................25