NASHVILLE'S MUSIC CITY CENTER IS A "GO" On Tuesday, January 19 the Nashville Metro Council approved the Music City Center project with a 29-9 vote. The city will now move forward on building the $585 million downtown convention center; construction is slated to begin within the next two to three months. GNAR is on record for supporting the Music City Center and is looking forward to seeing the positive impact the project will have on Nashville and Middle Tennessee. We congratulate Mayor Dean and the other community leaders like Ron Samuels and Ralph Schulz from the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Ellen Leifeld and Butch Spyridon of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau and many others who worked to make this project happen! BUSINESS OUTLOOK SUMMIT HELPS LEADERS PLAN FOR THE YEAR AHEAD Sound planning is an essential part of running a successful business. The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Business Outlook Summit can be very helpful in providing insights and information to help you plan for the year ahead. At this half-day event, business leaders will hear commentary from nearly 20 local and national experts on the Nashville region’s business outlook for 2010. In addition to nationally known economist/futurist keynote speaker Dr. Lowell Catlett from New Mexico State University, other features of the summit include: Electronic Business Outlook Briefing Book for every attendee covering Nashville-region business conditions and trends. Sector-specific updates from leading professionals and forecasts for 2010. Information fair showcasing experts and resources from key agencies. Evaluation and insight into local industry trends from members of the Chamber’s Business Conditions Council. Chamber research and resources for 2010 business planning. Tangible tools for small and medium-sized business decision-making. Networking opportunities with peer business leaders. The Business Outlook Summit will be held at the Cool Springs Marriott on Wednesday, January 27. GNAR CEO, Don Klein will be one of the panelists. Online registration is now available.

UPDATE FROM NAR: FHA Announces Changes On January 20, The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced major changes to ensure its long-term financial soundness. For more information, please click here. Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) The Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) establishes standards for solicitation, selection, compensation, conflicts of interest and appraiser independence. It became effective May 1, 2009, for any mortgage that will be sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac; Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) mortgages are not covered in the agreement. For the latest news, please click here.