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IDB approves pass-through state grant for Rock Nashville production campus
Summary
The Industrial Development Board approved agreements to accept a state pass-through emerging industry business development grant for Rock Nashville, a proposed 55-acre live‑entertainment production campus in Whites Creek, with developers and state representatives describing expected capital investment, jobs and workforce training.
The Industrial Development Board voted to approve grant documents that will allow state funds to pass through the board to support Rock Nashville, a planned 55‑acre live‑entertainment production campus in the Whites Creek area.
The project is significant because it would add specialized production and rehearsal facilities to the Nashville region, support an estimated 500 on‑site jobs, and include workforce training and middle‑school outreach programs tied to the live‑production industry.
Representatives from the Tennessee Entertainment Commission and the developer outlined the campus concept. Bob Raines, executive director of the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, said Rock Nashville will house production rehearsal arenas, band rehearsal studios and industry collaboration space. He described the campus as “a state‑of‑the‑art facility to collaborate, build, and rehearse events here in Nashville,” and said the development would include storage and substantial hospitality demand for crews that visit during tour builds.
State presenters and developers said the campus would total about 609,000 square feet of production space; the developer estimated a capital investment near $50 million, annual payroll of roughly $30 million, and about $20 million in annual guest spending, with some 35 companies locating on campus.
Metro staff explained the grant is a pass‑through of state funds. John (Metro Legal) told the board the package included three documents: a grant agreement between the state and the IDB, a grant agreement between the IDB and Rock Nashville Properties LLC, and an accountability agreement among all three parties. Metro Legal reviewed the documents and said they were routine and in order.
Board members asked about community engagement, workforce pipelines and whether the facility would accommodate film and television work. State and developer representatives said the facility is intended primarily for live‑event production and rehearsal (music and large‑scale touring), that Rock Lititz has existing workforce-training programs such as a middle‑school engagement program and an academy for trade education, and that they expect to coordinate with Metro Nashville Public Schools for vocational pathways. The developers said Rock Nashville would not be focused on film and television work and that scheduling demand already extends years into the future.
A motion to approve three documents — the state‑to‑IDB grant, the IDB‑to‑Rock Nashville grant, and the accountability agreement — was made by Board member Rodriguez and seconded by Board member Davis; the board voted “aye,” and the record shows the chair abstained. Metro staff noted the opening window the developer stated in the meeting: November (year not specified in transcript).
