Downtown Nashville safety upgrades, makeover gets $25.5M from Music City Center despite defunding push

The Tennessean, February 2, 2023

A $25.5 million downtown-improvement grant to Metro Nashville and the Nashville Downtown Partnership was approved Thursday by the Convention Center Authority, despite a state threat to defund the agency.

Music City Center President and CEO Charles Starks said the board approved the grant, which will be paid unless state leaders pursue a bill introduced this week to revoke six primary tax-revenue streams that maintain and operate the convention center.