Nashville Downtown Partnership Receives $15 Million State Grant to Improve Safety Downtown

Upgrades to homeless outreach services, infrastructure and security will be managed by NDP in coordination with city agencies.

NASHVILLE, TN (December 1, 2025) – The Nashville Downtown Partnership (NDP) stands to be awarded a $15 million grant from the State of Tennessee to enable NDP and its partners to enhance safety in the downtown area by using coordinated, data-driven strategies aligned with statewide crime reduction priorities.

The funds will enhance operations at Metro Nashville Police Department’s (MNPD) existing Community Safety Center; expand outreach teams working to support people experiencing homelessness, mental health crises, or addiction; and improve safety infrastructure downtown by providing funds for lighting improvements, publicly accessible restrooms and new safety technology such as noise cameras to assist Vision Zero goals. These funds are meant to be spent collaboratively, with roughly half of the funds being gifted outright to Metro for their independent use for grant-approved activities. The grant-funded gifts to Metro will underwrite several large purchases, including an additional, modernized armored rescue vehicle, mobile command post, tactical support post and upgraded community safety center, all of which fall under existing and current oversight policies as well as no additional cost to the Davidson County taxpayer.

“Our core purpose is to make downtown Nashville the premier location in the Southeast in which to live, work, play and invest, so with the availability of the Tennessee Downtown Public Safety Grant, we worked to improve downtown for all to enjoy,” said Tom Turner, President and CEO of the Nashville Downtown Partnership. “Now, we’re able to make major investments in collaboration with state and local partners to improve existing infrastructure and technology, such as overt cameras, lighting and public restrooms, and also expand our outreach services for members of our community experiencing homelessness, mental health crises and addiction.”

The grant, for which NDP applied in partnership with the city, is part of a statewide effort to reduce crime in Tennessee’s major cities, and specifically their downtowns, with funds going to Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis. Beyond safety and infrastructure improvements, the grant will significantly expand NDP’s outreach services for downtown’s unhoused individuals, providing the necessary resources for new outreach services, enhanced partnerships with local service providers and expanded case management for unhoused individuals to ensure positive outcomes.

“In the midst of all the growth downtown, our team is dedicated to ensuring no one is left behind. This funding strengthens our ability to make connections and serve our neighbors, as well as work more collaboratively with other partners,” said Antonio Tomlinson, NDP’s Outreach Social Services Operation Manager.

By the Numbers:

Funds gifted to Metro/MNPD
- Technology Improvements - $3.2m
  - $150k to replace and update MNPD’s safety cameras
  - $900k for noise camera technology to help MNPD address vehicle noise and street racing
  - $2.1m for an expansion to MNPD’s Community Safety Center housed at MNPD Headquarters
- Equipment - $3.1m
  - $415k for an additional, modernized armored rescue vehicle
  - $2m for a new Mobile Command Post
  - $800k for a new Tactical Support Post
- Capital Projects - $2.7m
  - $1.5m for lighting improvements in high-traffic areas
  - $1.2m for the construction and maintenance of 6 new free, publicly accessible restrooms
Funds for NDP’s use
- Startup and staffing costs - $2.5m
- Service expansion - $3.5m
  - $3.2m for outreach to unhoused individuals and individuals in crisis
  - $270k for additional safety ambassadors/equipment

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About Nashville Downtown Partnership

Organized in 1994, the Nashville Downtown Partnership is a private-sector nonprofit corporation and membership organization whose core purpose is “to make Downtown Nashville the compelling urban center in the Southeast in which to LIVE, WORK, PLAY and INVEST.” For more information, visit nashvilledowntown.com.