Nashville Small Business Growth Incentives

The Nashville Small Business Growth Incentives are a suite of four grant programs administered by the Nashville Mayor’s Office of Economic and Community Development, designed to strengthen local businesses, support job growth, train employees, and improve the economic vitality of the city’s commercial corridors. All four programs share a common baseline eligibility requirement: applicants must have fewer than 100 employees globally and operate a physical business location within Davidson County. Applications for any of the four programs are routed through a single Application for Incentives form on the Metro Nashville hub, after which the appropriate program team follows up with the applicant.

The Property Investment Incentive supports construction and rehabilitation of commercial properties through a 50 percent reimbursement grant of up to $50,000, with a minimum required investment of $10,000. Eligible properties must be located in designated census tracts and have an existing property value of up to $2 million. The program covers both exterior and interior improvements.

The Legacy Business Program provides grants of up to $30,000 per business to support longtime Nashville businesses that have become fixtures of their communities. To qualify, businesses must be for-profit, independently and locally owned, have continuously operated in Nashville for at least 10 years, and demonstrate that they have contributed to the culture, history, or identity of their neighborhood. Grant funds help legacy businesses stay competitive by financially assisting with modernizing operational infrastructure, planning for sustainability and resilience, reducing operational costs, investing in marketing, and other similar needs.

The Workforce Advancement Incentive reimburses employers for employee training and professional development costs at a rate of $1,000 per employee for up to 10 employees, with a maximum grant of $10,000 per business. To qualify, businesses must have at least five employees, use a formal internal training program or one offered by an accredited institution, and ensure that the training leads to a recognized industry-advancing credential.

The Job Growth Incentive provides financial support to qualifying small businesses that create new jobs. Eligible for-profit businesses can qualify by adding at least 10 new positions within a 12-month period, with each new job paying more than 80 percent of the average wage for the Nashville-Davidson County metropolitan area. The incentive reimburses training and relocation costs at $500 per new position, or $750 per position filled by a veteran, with a maximum award of $50,000 per business.