AGP Executive Report

Tech & Infrastructure: Wells Fargo says U.S. local data-center moratoriums jumped to 374, with Tennessee among the states seeing the most restrictions as communities push back over power costs, grid capacity, and water use. Energy & Policy: DC BLOX named Tricia Pridemore EVP for energy, regulatory and policy, signaling more aggressive utility and PPA negotiations as digital infrastructure expands. Healthcare Innovation: Revelyx Bio reported positive Phase 2 topline results for YY003, a ready-to-use recombinant botulinum toxin type A, and plans to move toward an FDA end-of-Phase-2 meeting. Agriculture & Food Tech: Fresh Inset Solutions rolled out the MaTri® system to verify 1-MCP treatment effectiveness in apple cold storage in real time. Local Business & Jobs: East Tennessee State University is building a startup ecosystem via an entrepreneurship minor aimed at keeping founders in the Tri-Cities. Tourism: Tennessee tourism leader Mark Ezell won U.S. Travel Association Director of the Year, citing record visitor spending and major tax revenue gains. Manufacturing/Construction: Siemens Healthineers announced a Tennessee manufacturing and R&D expansion.

Data Centers & Public Backlash: A Wells Fargo tracker says U.S. local moratoriums on data center builds have jumped to 374, with Tennessee among the states seeing the most restrictions as residents cite power, grid strain, water use, and community disruption. Local Tech Debate: In Bowling Green, students and city leaders held an open discussion on data centers and Flock cameras, with residents linking data center power demands to outages after storms. Healthcare & Patient Safety: Ascension Saint Thomas faces two deadlines in the same week—an expiring UnitedHealthcare contract and a CMS patient-safety plan submission—after a pharmacy mix-up sent the wrong medication to patients at Midtown. Energy Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports show Tennessee fuel volatility easing in early September, including lowest regular at $3.35 in Rhea County and $3.78 midgrade in Blount County. Music & Culture: Ella Langley leads 2026 CMA nominations with nine nods, while Memphis’ Overton Park Shell marks 90 years since Elvis’ early paid performance. Tennessee Business/Jobs: Siemens Healthineers announced a Tennessee manufacturing and R&D expansion, signaling continued industrial investment.

Healthcare & Construction: U.S. Rep. Dale Strong toured Huntsville Hospital’s $150 million Madison Street Tower expansion in Alabama, adding 120 beds and new cardiothoracic and neuro intensive care space as the project ramps toward 2027. Public Health: USDA plans to drop hundreds of thousands of rabies vaccine baits over parts of Georgia, with a second operation covering areas including Tennessee, aiming to stop raccoon rabies from spreading. Tech & Power Policy: A Wells Fargo tracker says local data-center moratoriums have surged to 374 nationwide, with Tennessee among the states seeing the most restrictions as communities push back over electricity, grid capacity, and water impacts. Energy & Industry Finance: NuScale Power shares remain volatile as investors debate when small modular reactor commercialization will translate into real revenue—key for any rebound toward prior highs. Tennessee Higher Ed: Tennessee State University is weighing a sale of property near John C. Tune Airport to monetize land and boost revenue after major budget improvements. Business Travel: Hyatt and Delta announced a long-term loyalty partnership letting members earn points and miles across both brands.

Music & Talent: Ella Langley led the 2026 CMA Awards nominations with nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert (six), with Kacey Musgraves and Ben West at five each—setting up a big night for Middle Tennessee’s country pipeline. Healthcare Robotics: Chattanooga-based Zeus Robotics is launching a three-month Erlanger Hospital pilot for an autonomous logistics robot to move lab samples, aiming to cut frontline workload. Battery Materials: Novonix says its Chattanooga synthetic graphite is nearing full specs after feedback from Panasonic Energy, with mass production targeted for the second half of 2027. Energy & Grid Pressure: A Wells Fargo tracker shows data-center moratoriums have surged to 374 nationwide, with Tennessee among the states seeing the most local restrictions tied to power, water, and community impacts. Public Health: USDA will air-drop millions of rabies vaccine baits across the Southeast in October, including projects covering parts of Tennessee. Local Community Build: Chattanooga and Hamilton County opened Harvesting Inclusive Play, a $2.5M universally accessible playground at Jack Benson Heritage Park.

CMA Awards Buzz: Ella Langley led the 2026 Country Music Association Awards nominations with nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert with six, as “Choosin’ Texas” and “Be Her” stacked up in major categories. Data Center Backlash: A Wells Fargo tracker says U.S. local data-center moratoriums jumped to 374, with Tennessee among the states seeing the most restrictions as residents cite power, grid capacity, water use, and community impacts. Healthcare Refunds: The White House says nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Tennessee, will get $500 Obamacare refunds tied to alleged federal exchange “overcharges.” Food Safety: The FDA expanded a Walmart Great Value frozen berries recall to more states and Puerto Rico over possible E. coli O145 contamination. Animal Health: At a Crops & Cattle session, officials warned cattle producers about emerging threats like New World screwworm and theileria. Local Industry & Energy: Tennessee’s policy fight over data centers continues as lawmakers and communities push back on tax exemptions and expansion plans.

Data Centers & Local Politics: Wells Fargo says U.S. data-center moratoriums have jumped to 374, with Tennessee among the states seeing the most local restrictions as residents push back over power, grid capacity, water use, and community impacts. Healthcare Costs: The White House says nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Tennessee, will get $500 Obamacare refunds tied to alleged Biden-era premium “user fee” overcharges. Workforce & Training: The Tennessee Board of Regents heads to Shelbyville for its Sept. 17-18 meeting, with updates on workforce development, new academic proposals, and system priorities for the 2027 session. Manufacturing & Supply Chain: Hino Motors will auction off machinery from its Marion axle plant ahead of a mid-2027 shutdown, with a Sept. 23-24 webcast sale. Food Industry: Sugar producers face a new price-fixing lawsuit from major packaged-food makers, including Tennessee-based McKee. Energy Transition: A Southeast clean-energy report finds the region leads EV manufacturing investment and jobs, with Tennessee in the mix. Local Business: Morning Pointe plans a new Johnson City senior living campus, while O’Charley’s closures leave workers in Bellevue scrambling.

AI Compute & Data Centers: SpaceX says it landed another AI hosting deal worth $1.11B a month starting Dec. 1, adding to capacity agreements with Anthropic and Google that tie directly to Tennessee/Mississippi infrastructure. Local Planning & Public Land: Tennessee officials want a waiver to speed up choosing a master developer for 10 acres of Capitol-area parking lots, including land tied to Elon Musk’s Boring Company tunnel work. Energy & Transportation Costs: AAA reports national gas prices up 13 cents to $4.27 as crude rebounds near $100 a barrel; EV charging averages hold at 42 cents/kWh. Renewables Deal: Enel buys a 625MW U.S. solar portfolio from Excelsior Energy Capital, including Tennessee’s 100MW Skyhawk project under a TVA PPA. Education & Mental Health Funding: Tennessee lawmakers will decide how to spend Meta settlement money for child mental health via the Children’s Digital Protection Fund. Industry & Safety: Nashville Murphy Express faces a state notice of violation after inspectors found water in an underground gasoline tank. Construction & Infrastructure: Chattanooga secures a $25M federal grant to replace the Wilcox Boulevard Bridge, with construction slated for early 2027. Tech for the Grid: Researchers from Tennessee Tech and others test extreme EV fast-charging controls aimed at stabilizing the grid and resisting cyberattacks.

Healthcare & Consumer Policy: President Trump announced $500 Obamacare refund checks for nearly 1 million people in 30 states, including Tennessee, tied to alleged federal exchange “user fee” overcharges. Workforce & Local Economic Mobility: Memphis launched NextUp901, a citywide program offering free career prep and paid training for ages 18–30, aiming to place 1,000 participants into stable careers within a year. Cybersecurity in Healthcare: REACH Kidney Care (Nashville) earned HITRUST r2 certification for its EHR, highlighting stronger controls to protect sensitive patient data. Local Governance & Infrastructure: Clarksville Gas and Water scheduled a Longwood Lane water outage for valve maintenance, with low pressure possible. Industry & Community Debate: A proposed drone manufacturing facility in Gainesboro sparked intense backlash from residents concerned about the project’s political and community impact. Business & Sports Media: The Grizzlies struck a multiyear deal with DAZN for local broadcasts, streaming most regular-season games in a broader regional territory. Arts & Transit Activation: Chattanooga’s CARTA and Understory will debut “Search Party” on a downtown rooftop, featuring interactive installations by 40+ local artists.

Tourism Finance: Nashville’s Music City Center authority is moving ahead with a $775M bond plan tied to tourism tax revenue to fund expansion work, including refinancing older Build America Bonds and covering early phases of a larger $1.2B project. Public Safety & Health: East Tennessee’s Knox County Regional Forensic Center says it has linked 63 deaths to cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid flagged federally in April—highlighting how counterfeit street drugs can slip past many emergency drug screens. Energy & Manufacturing R&D: Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers say they’ve developed a reusable adhesive made from waste polymers that can bond many materials and be softened for reuse, aiming to cut waste in industrial repair and manufacturing. Local Business & Jobs: SERVPRO announced expanded support for the Gary Sinise Foundation, including grants and equipment/training help for first responders. Agriculture: Martin’s Soybean Festival is back in a grassroots form after the official event was canceled amid local financial turmoil, with volunteers rebuilding the tradition. Consumer Credit: Payday lender Advance Financial closed dozens of Tennessee storefronts as it consolidates after customers shifted online.

Retail & Jobs: Academy Sports + Outdoors reported higher Q2 sales and earnings, with e-commerce up 12.8% and plans to open more stores in Tennessee. Local Infrastructure: Hamilton County says Hickory Ridge Road will stay closed through a bridge replacement, with construction expected to begin in 2027. Transit & Training: UTC is partnering with CARTA on self-driving shuttle work tied to a $25M U.S. DOT grant, creating a hands-on learning lab for students. Economic Development: Nashville’s IDB approved storefront grants and a registered apprenticeship program to help businesses upgrade facades and signage while hiring apprentices. Road Work: TDOT is closing SR-141 in parts of Trousdale County for about four weeks for slope repairs, and Putnam County crews keep moving on the SR-111 J-turn safety project. Energy & Industry: A new nuclear microreactor push is expanding across the U.S., with Tennessee mentioned among reactor development efforts. Business Shock: O’Charley’s is closing all Middle Tennessee locations with little warning, and state officials say no WARN notice was filed. Agriculture: UT field updates give Tennessee cotton farmers a mixed but promising outlook for the season. Manufacturing/Materials: NOVONIX says a lead-customer qualification sample of synthetic graphite anode material hit 12 of 14 specs, moving it closer to commercial production.

Autonomous Mobility in Nashville: Lyft and Waymo launched matching with Waymo’s fully autonomous vehicles inside the Lyft app in Nashville, expanding rider options beyond the Waymo app. Food Safety: FDA expanded an E. coli berry recall to include Great Value frozen Organic Triple Berry Blend sold in 16 states, including Tennessee. Retail & Supply Chain: Castle Retail Group named Ryan Harte VP/Director of Perishables to lead fresh food strategy across meat, produce and dairy in the Mid-South. Local Business/Investing: Holley Performance Brands will send senior management to investor conferences in Nashville and elsewhere, signaling continued aftermarket investment focus. School Meals Under Pressure: SNAP cuts could ripple into school breakfast and lunch programs, risking eligibility tied to SNAP participation. Energy & Nuclear Policy: Tennessee lawmakers push nuclear-forward economic development, while rural concerns grow over long-term nuclear material storage. Solar Manufacturing: Create Energy secured a new U.S. patent for its QuickGrip solar mounting rail, aiming to speed tracker installations. Public Works/Procurement: Spring Hill seeks bids for water treatment clarifier and filter equipment; multiple local public notices continue across counties.

EV & Charging Policy: Tennessee’s TDEC launched a Multifamily Housing Rebate Program for Level 2 EV charging, with $650,000 available via the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement EMT—up to 10 plugs per site and higher caps for qualifying low-income or burdened areas. Logistics Costs: Diesel hit record highs in Tennessee (state average about $5.64/gal), raising shipping costs and likely pushing fuel surcharges higher for trucking and freight. Manufacturing Expansion: US Smokeless Tobacco broke ground on a facility expansion in Hopkinsville, adding 200 jobs—another sign of ongoing investment in the region’s processing industry. Local Infrastructure: TDOT closed the Collierville-Arlington bridge over the Wolf River for repairs, with reopening targeted for October 2027 and the broader project completion expected in spring 2028. Workforce Training: North Central Institute in Clarksville highlighted its aviation maintenance pipeline, including a fast-track FAA A&P path aimed at easing a technician shortage. Food Access Research: A new State of School Lunch Report ranks Vermont No. 1 for school meal reach and participation, with Tennessee readers watching how states expand access and locally sourced options.

Data Centers & Local Impact: Gallatin’s Meta hyperscale campus is now the city’s biggest taxpayer, but residents are pushing back over utilities, environment, and property values as the debate over growth vs. quality of life heats up. Air Travel & Business Travel: Southwest Airlines has started building its first-ever premium airport lounges, with Nashville among the initial locations, signaling a new revenue push beyond budget flyers. STEM & Workforce Pipeline: ORAU is funding hands-on STEM classroom grants across East Tennessee counties, from robotics and engineering kits to industrial-grade 3D printers—aimed at boosting real-world skills for students. Nuclear & Energy Innovation: Tennessee is tied to a broader fusion push as the state issues nation’s first commercial nuclear fusion license, adding momentum to the next wave of grid-ready clean power. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Flock cameras are driving friction across Tennessee governments and residents over privacy as some contracts end and the policy fight continues. Healthcare & Imaging: RadNet’s Nashville-area conference appearance highlights ongoing demand for diagnostic imaging services and related tech. Local Culture & Community: A Dolly-inspired 9to5K on Music Row drew a sold-out crowd for United Way and Imagination Library, showing how Tennessee brands keep turning entertainment into local impact.

Drug Enforcement: Indiana State Police arrested a truck driver hauling about 277 pounds of cocaine worth roughly $3.8M after a stop on I-70; the driver said the load was tied to an empty trailer route from Memphis to Indianapolis. Workforce & Defense Manufacturing: Kilgore Flares Co. filed a WARN notice for a permanent reduction in force of 127 workers at its Toone facility, with layoffs set for Oct. 31. Public Health & Rural Economy: The FDA opened a public docket on speeding botanical drug development as Appalachian wild ginseng season ramps up under federal trade controls. Healthcare Infrastructure: DeKalb County held a ribbon-cutting for a new 9,860-square-foot Health Department building with expanded clinic capacity and services. Local Tech for Safety: Chattanooga-based 3rd Eye released an AI-driven safety camera for commercial drivers, aiming to coach risky behavior in real time. Roads & Construction: TDOT announced a traffic shift in Union County on Maynardville Highway for box culvert work, with delays expected during the day. Sports & Community Giving: Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter will donate $427 per tackle to cancer research as he turns a prior NCAA suspension into a season-long charity push.

Energy & Industry: A proposed $11.3B “Project River” energy campus in Cleveland, Tennessee drew a silent, sign-carrying protest from dozens of residents worried about environmental impacts and effects on the Hiwassee River. Local Governance & Data Centers: Nashville Zoo is fighting a proposed 69,000 sq ft data center next to the park after a Change.org petition neared 600,000 signatures, with concerns about noise and light affecting animals; city officials have moved toward restrictions and possible property steps. Manufacturing & Power: Elon Musk’s SpaceXAI is reportedly planning a Doosan combined-cycle power plant to supply high-capacity electricity for Memphis-area AI infrastructure, signaling more heavy construction and utility coordination. Workforce & Policy: Oxfam ranked Georgia near the bottom for worker protections, citing low minimum wages and weak right-to-organize rules—an indirect pressure point for the broader Southeast labor debate. Sports & Community: TSWA released Week 4 Tennessee high school football rankings, led by South Pittsburg in Class 1A and Huntingdon in Class 2A.

Fusion Energy: Tennessee issued the nation’s first license for a commercial nuclear fusion “stellarator” machine to Type One Energy, with a prototype planned near Knoxville and a target to bring a fusion plant online by 2034. Local Industry & Jobs: Hyundai’s U.S. steel expansion and supplier hiring progress are in focus as incentives and job timelines face uneven follow-through, with a Georgia analysis pointing to lagging supplier sites even as the metaplant ramps. Tourism & Culture: Chattanooga’s Tivoli Theatre is set to reopen after a $75 million restoration and expansion, funded largely by private and philanthropic capital, adding a revitalized performing arts complex to the city’s visitor economy. Nashville Sports Business: The Titans kicked off a season-long farewell to Nissan Stadium as a new home rises on Nashville’s skyline, with new “Rivalries” uniforms and special fan-facing food and retail plans. Consumer Safety: Tennessee cities including Memphis and Nashville logged the most BBB Scam Tracker reports in July, underscoring ongoing fraud losses nationwide.