Latest news with #FreddieO'Connell
Axios
18 hours ago
- Business
- Axios
Mayor O'Connell's parks strategy: Add new parks, repair existing ones
Welcome to Day 4 of Tennessee Trailheads: This week, each edition of Axios Nashville will explore a different aspect of the parks where we picnic and play. Nashville's park system is at an inflection point. At the same time it scored below its peers in national rankings, the Parks Department is asking residents to help map out the system's future. Why it matters: Mayor Freddie O'Connell has noticed the rankings of the most populous cities' parks. His approach to parks so far has been a mixture of big-ticket spending and unsexy investments in deferred maintenance to address the backlog of needed repairs. State of play: The updated vision, called Plan to Play, is meant to identify and prioritize parks needs for the next five years. It will draw on residents' suggestions. Thursday is the last day to answer the public survey. What he's saying: After taking office in 2023, O'Connell's administration refreshed the Plan to Play focus. In an interview with Axios, O'Connell said his administration's goal is to bring the ideas it produced to reality as quickly as possible. That requires a balancing act between splashy new park openings and under-the-radar repairs to existing parks. "It's establishing a cadence," he says. "You don't grow the new stuff at the expense of needed repairs at existing facilities without a clear strategy." By the numbers: O'Connell's first two capital spending plans included a combined $60.8 million for the Parks Department. The bulk of the spending has been on addressing a backlog of maintenance projects, including repairs to the Parkwood community center. That amount also included $8.3 million for the new Mill Ridge Park and $5 million for Mariposa Park. Both of those parks are in southeast Davidson County. "We knew there were parts of the city that had not historically seen investments," he said. Another focus has been on parks safety, with addition of more lighting and electronic entrance gates. Zoom out: Part of O'Connell's approach to parks has been serving as chief cheerleader, using his megaphone to tout the department's constant stream of programming. He mentions a full-moon hike, water balloon fight and coffee with birdwatchers among the unique, free offerings. "For years, I've been the dork that goes and looks at the nature centers' monthly calendars," he says. "It's a great way to explore parts of the city." The bottom line: The Trust for Public Land rankings shows Nashville has room for growth in terms of parks investments.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Noose discovered on Titans Stadium–construction stopped
(Image via Getty Images: Aerial view of the Nissan Stadium located near the Cumberland River) On July 18, the Tennessee Builders Alliance released a statement: 'This week, a racist and hateful symbol was discovered on our work site. There is no place for hate or racism in our workplace. We reported the incident to law enforcement, suspended work, and launched an investigation. A reward has been offered for information leading to the identification of the individual responsible.' Metropolitan Nashville Police Department found a noose at the construction site of the Tennessee Titans' new Nissan Stadium. Police are investigating the scenario. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said in a statement, 'It is very concerning; there is an open investigation. I know the Titans are cooperating with Metro Nashville Police, and we'll see what the investigation turns up.' — jasrifootball (@jasrifootball) Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell tries hard to prevent hate-based incidents Mayor O'Connell further stated that they've tried hard to focus on workplace safety, 'We have spent a lot of energy, including going back to when I was on Metro Council on workplace safety. This is an environment where we want to try as hard as we can to prevent scenarios that might be fear or hate-based. We've taken some steps, both with local policies, state policy, and partnership with them to try, again, to keep temperatures low and prevent hate incidents like this. ' Tennessee Builders Alliance said everyone deserves to feel safe and welcome The Tennessee Builders Alliance further stated, 'Counseling services are available to all workers. We are requiring additional anti-bias training for every person on site, and work will resume only after a site-wide standdown focused on inclusion and respect. 'We are outraged and deeply saddened by this act. We are working in close partnership with our client, trade partners, and unions to ensure every worker understands that racism and hate have no place here. Everyone deserves to feel safe, welcomed, and treated with respect.' Mike Florio of NBC Sports said that it was unclear how long the construction would remain halted. The $2.2 billion worth stadium is expected to open in 2027. What is a noose? Trigger Warning–disturbing details. In June 2020, Alaa Elassar of CNN US reported that a noose is a simple loop at the end of the rope under a running knot, which tightens as it's pulled. In America, the hangman's noose has come to symbolize a deplorable act of brutality, along with unbound fear and hatred towards African Americans. Also Read: Buffalo Bills sign defensive tackle T.J. Sanders to a four-year contract worth $10 million guaranteed | NFL News - Times of India Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Axios
14-07-2025
- General
- Axios
Nashville wants ideas for how to address food deserts
Mayor Freddie O'Connell wants Nashvillians to offer up their ideas for how to address the city's food desert problem. Why it matters: More than 40,000 Nashville residents live in food deserts, which means they have limited access to healthy and affordable groceries in their neighborhoods. Driving the news: In the coming weeks, the city will release an open call out for "innovative ideas" for how to bring community-focused grocery stores to areas that lack them.
Axios
10-07-2025
- Health
- Axios
Nashville Strong Babies program celebrates anniversary amid fears of cuts
The Nashville Strong Babies program, which helps mothers with everything from doula support to nutrition, recently celebrated the first anniversary of its expansion across Davidson County. Why it matters: The program has been a resounding local success story, highlighted by no infant deaths and no maternal deaths among its participants since it was launched in 2019. The big picture: Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell and the Metro Council increased local money for Nashville Strong Babies this year, adding more staff to the program at a time when it was rumored to be facing federal funding cuts. The city's newly passed budget includes an additional $334,700 for the increased staffing. The intrigue: The program has been primarily funded with about $1 million in annual federal grants, but that looked precarious as the Trump administration slashed budgets. Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services flagged $11 billion in potential funding cuts, including the money that goes to Metro for Nashville Strong Babies. The city received about half of its expected allotment earlier this year, and expects to receive the other half in October. Beyond that, city leaders worry federal support could be at risk. Flashback: Nashville Strong Babies was launched in seven Nashville ZIP codes that had higher infant mortality rates. The Metro Department of Health initiative pairs expecting mothers with a care coordinator who provides wrap-around services with the goal of starting a baby's life in a healthy way. Specialists help mothers navigate health insurance, provide childbirth education and breastfeeding support, and connect them to other community resources. Doula services and nutritional education are staples of the program. The services, which are free to the mother, continue until a baby turns 18 months. By the numbers: Since the program expanded countywide a year ago, 516 families have participated. Nashville Strong Babies has seen 92% of its babies born at a healthy birth rate, 91% are born full-term and 100% of doula-supported mothers continue to feed their babies breastmilk. What he's saying:"More Nashville children are able to celebrate their first birthday, and since the inception of the program, every mother that participated has survived," O'Connell said. "That's remarkable because more Tennessee women die while pregnant or within one year of childbirth more than any other state in the nation."
Business Wire
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Fifth Third Announces Three-Year, $20M Investment in North Nashville
CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fifth Third (NASDAQ: FITB) and Nashville leaders announced today that North Nashville will join the Fifth Third Neighborhood Program, bringing an influx of $20 million over three years to help revitalize the community. 'Fifth Third could not be more excited to bring our innovative Neighborhood Program to North Nashville,' said Kala Gibson, chief corporate responsibility officer for Fifth Third. 'We piloted our place-based economic development program back in 2019 and rolled it out in nine neighborhoods across our footprint in 2021. We have invested nearly $255 million since that time and witnessed generational, transformative change. We're thrilled about the opportunity to apply what we've learned and help North Nashville realize similar outcomes and impact.' In partnership with Affordable Housing Resources, Inc., Pathway Lending and United Way of Greater Nashville, Fifth Third and lead technical assistance partner Enterprise Community Partners will help community members implement their economic mobility roadmap that will help advance economic mobility and financial inclusion for the residents and businesses of North Nashville. To support this work, Fifth Third is pledging a $20 million investment in traditional financial and philanthropic capital in North Nashville over the next three years, including $1 million each to Affordable Housing Resources and the United Way from the Fifth Third Foundation. 'As a long-time resident of North Nashville I welcome this investment in our neighborhoods,' said Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell. 'We've been trying to shift how we invest in North Nashville. Recently, we've taken a special budgeting process and directed hundreds of thousands of dollars into four North Nashville Council districts. Then, we put $1 million directly into a multi-year effort anchored at Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center focused on lowering blood pressure. We've started to lower electric bills through a new insulation partnership with NES. And at least $7 million in federal funding to help North Nashville continue to recover from the long-term impacts of the 2020 tornado. 'Now we will amplify those investments with a $20 million commitment from Fifth Third that will result in community development through housing preservation, small business assistance, and vacant lot activation. Community members will see the results starting later this year,' Mayor O'Connell said. Nashville's economic mobility roadmap includes several key focus areas: growing housing and homeownership, such as by developing and preserving affordable housing; investing in small businesses and community wealth-building, such as by expanding access to capital and business planning; investing in people-based programs and services, such as by supporting education-to-career pathways; and investing in infrastructure and environmental priorities, such as by addressing tornado damage and highway impacts. 'I am thrilled that North Nashville has been selected for Fifth Third's Neighborhood Program,' said David Briggs, Tennessee region president for Fifth Third Bank. 'The North Nashville community embodies both the rich history of this city and the promise and challenges of its future. This investment of financial and intellectual capital illustrates Fifth Third's commitment to ensuring that all the members of the North Nashville community can share in its growth and truly make their lives a Fifth Third Better.' Fifth Third prioritizes broadening financial access and neighborhood revitalization through its Neighborhood Program, a community development initiative launched in 2021 which creates and implements innovative place-based strategies to effect positive change in historically disinvested neighborhoods across the Bank's 11-state consumer bank footprint. The program is pioneering a new place-based approach to community development by partnering with a lead partner organization, Enterprise Community Partners, and local organizations to build ecosystems that drive real change through both financial and social investments. This collective ecosystem approach is focused on identifying solutions to key challenges in partnership with the community, with the goal of creating lasting, transformative change. The place-based concept was piloted in 2019 in Detroit's Gratiot & Seven Mile neighborhood. Two years later, the program expanded into the Neighborhood Program, adding nine additional neighborhoods in seven states. Through the Neighborhood Program, Fifth Third has directly invested nearly $255 million across the nine neighborhoods. That investment helped catalyze over $200 million in additional investment. The result: $455 million in total Fifth Third-driven investments and tangible community impact, including: 584 new rental homes developed to increase the supply of affordable rental housing; 437 existing homes preserved; 1,932 homeowners assisted through purchase assistance, classes, repairs, and other programs; 926 small businesses supported through technical assistance and other programs; 70 key positions filled to help community organizations build capacity; $25 million in philanthropic investment by Fifth Third. About Fifth Third Fifth Third is a bank that's as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we've been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it's one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation's highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust. Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol "FITB." Investor information and press releases can be viewed at Deposit and credit products provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.
