The Community Partnership Fund Supports Growth That Strengthens Communities
The Community Partnership Fund offers a strategic way for organizations to invest in economic growth through community development, tourism, and the hospitality industry, the very forces shaping Tennessee’s future.
Your support is a charitable donation to the Tennessee Tourism Investment Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to advance sustainable tourism and economic development across Tennessee. Contributions to the fund are used to directly support programs and initiatives that benefit communities throughout South Central Tennessee.
Tourism is Tennessee’s second largest industry, generating more than 31 billion dollars in visitor spending in 2024. In South Central Tennessee alone, visitors contributed 545 million dollars to the regional economy, resulting in more than 52 million dollars in direct tax revenue. Tennessee now ranks 11th nationally in tourism, and that momentum continues to grow.
But visitors are not the only ones choosing Tennessee.
In 2025, Tennessee has remained one of the nation’s top destinations for people relocating, driven by affordability, quality of life, and opportunity. This surge in new residents brings both tremendous potential and real challenges. Communities must not only attract growth but also guide it intentionally.
That is why a strong, coordinated livability marketing and relocation program is more important now than ever.
A well-executed approach helps communities capture the influx of new residents, differentiate from competing destinations, connect newcomers to jobs, housing, and local services, strengthen community identity and pride, and turn short-term movers into long-term residents, workers, and customers.
Just as importantly, it communicates who we are as communities and the kind of growth we want to attract by showcasing both our opportunities and our needs.
To meet this moment, the South Central Tennessee Tourism Association, the Tennessee Tourism Investment Project, and local community partners have come together to launch the Community Partnership Fund.
What the Fund Supports
The Community Partnership Fund invests in two closely aligned focus areas.
Tourism, economic, and community development.
Relocation-focused marketing, resources, and tools that support people moving to Tennessee while strengthening local businesses and workforce readiness.
While tourism promotion and relocation efforts are not identical, they share common goals and many of the same solutions. The South Central Tennessee Tourism Association already addresses these overlapping needs through regional marketing, business development, and storytelling. By expanding these efforts in partnership with local communities, we are creating tools that help individuals and families confidently plan and complete their move, support employers by aligning with workforce needs, equip local businesses to respond to growth more effectively, and build a more connected, resilient, and responsive regional economy.
The Community Partnership Fund is not about growth for growth’s sake. It is about intentional development, community alignment, and ensuring that tourism and relocation work together to strengthen the places people visit and ultimately choose to call home.
What your Investment means for you and the Community
The Community Partnership Fund is designed to support a holistic approach to community development—strengthening local businesses, attracting new residents, and providing access to research and local services that help our communities thrive.
Through this partnership, we are set to launch the Move to Tennessee campaign and MoveToTennessee.org in early 2026, a livability initiative focused exclusively on the 13 counties of South Central Tennessee: Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Perry, and Wayne.
The platform will serve as a centralized resource for community research, local insights, and trusted partner services. This effort is further supported by an annual relocation guide, offering in-depth information for individuals and families considering a move to the region.
An investment in the Community Partnership Fund also directly supports locally owned businesses across the tourism and hospitality sectors—including food and beverage, lodging, retail, recreation, and transportation.
Your support helps provide local scholarships that allow these businesses to become members of the South Central Tennessee Tourism Association, granting them a one-year partnership with full benefits.
Through this partnership, businesses receive elevated regional marketing through the Experience Tennessee brand, along with access to storytelling tools and ongoing professional development through SCTTA’s Tourism Ready program—ensuring they are better equipped to welcome visitors and new residents alike.
What it means when you support The Community Project
Supporting the community project means investing directly in the strength and sustainability of your local small business ecosystem. Every dollar contributed goes back into the community—supporting the businesses, initiatives, and infrastructure that make your destination more vibrant, competitive, and visitor-ready.
Supporters also play a critical role in expanding access to funding through the Tourism-Ready grant program. These funds allow the South Central Tennessee Tourism Association to invest in local quality of life improvements, tourism development initiatives, and strategic projects that help communities grow responsibly.
In addition, this support helps unlock additional grant opportunities, giving communities greater access to outside funding and resources.
Who Should Become a Supporter?
The Community Project is built on collaboration, and strong communities are supported by strong partners. Ideal supporters include:
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Financial Institutions & Banks – Invest in the economic growth of the communities you serve
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Utility Providers & Service Companies – Support infrastructure that directly impacts visitor experience and business success
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Healthcare Systems & Major Employers – Strengthen community quality of life and workforce stability
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Local Governments & Economic Development Organizations—Maximize the return on tourism as a revenue driver
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Chambers of Commerce & Business Associations – Advocate for and uplift the local business community
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Hospitality & Tourism-Related Businesses – Directly benefit from increased visitation and stronger regional alignment
By becoming a supporter, you’re not just funding a program—you’re helping build a stronger, more connected, and more economically resilient community.
Benefit Details & Investment Levels for Support Partners
Platinum Level Supporter—$10,000
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Supports 30 Local Small Businesses with a Tourism-Ready Scholarship to SCTTA (click here to see benefits)
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Full-page ad in Move to Tennessee printed guide + listed in supporters index (prints in December)
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Full-page ad and link in Move to Tennessee digital guide (updated immediately)
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Branded Rack Card mailed out with Move to Tennessee Guides
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Linked Logo on "Community Supporters" on community subpages
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Blog and press release announcing your organization's support and the businesses covered
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A welcome letter that will be sent to each business supported by a scholarship your organization funds. This letter will detail the benefits their business will receive and will lay out how our partnership with your organization helped make it happen! Additionally, your organization can assist SCTTA by identifying local businesses you specifically want to support.
Gold Level Supporter - $7,000
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Supports 20 Local Small Businesses with a Tourism-Ready Scholarship to SCTTA (click here to see benefits)
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Half-page ad in Move to Tennessee printed guide + listed in supporters index (prints in December)
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Half-page ad and link in Move to Tennessee digital guide (updated immediately)
-
Branded Rack Card mailed out with Move to Tennessee Guides
-
Linked Logo on "Community Supporters" on community subpages
-
Blog and press release announcing your organization's support and the businesses covered
-
A welcome letter that will be sent to each business supported by a scholarship your organization funds. This letter will detail the benefits their business will receive and will lay out how our partnership with your organization helped make it happen! Additionally, your organization can assist SCTTA by identifying local businesses you specifically want to support.
Silver Level Supporter—$5,000
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Supports 15 Local Small Businesses with a Tourism-Ready Scholarship to SCTTA (click here to see benefits)
-
Half-page ad in Move to Tennessee printed guide + listed in supporters index (prints in December)
-
Half-page ad and link in Move to Tennessee digital guide (updated immediately)
-
Branded Rack Card mailed out with Move to Tennessee Guides
-
Linked Logo on "Community Supporters" on community subpages
-
Blog and press release announcing your organization's support and the businesses covered
-
A welcome letter that will be sent to each business supported by a scholarship your organization funds. This letter will detail the benefits their business will receive and will lay out how our partnership with your organization helped make it happen! Additionally, your organization can assist SCTTA by identifying local businesses you specifically want to support.
Bronze Level Supporter - $3,500
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Supports 10 Local Small Businesses with a Tourism-Ready Scholarship to SCTTA (click here to see benefits)
-
Half-page ad in Move to Tennessee printed guide + listed in supporters index (prints in December)
-
Half-page ad and link in Move to Tennessee digital guide (updated immediately)
-
Branded Rack Card mailed out with Move to Tennessee Guides
-
Linked Logo on "Community Supporters" on community subpages
-
Blog and press release announcing your organization's support and the businesses covered
-
A welcome letter that will be sent to each business supported by a scholarship your organization funds. This letter will detail the benefits their business will receive and will lay out how our partnership with your organization helped make it happen! Additionally, your organization can assist SCTTA by identifying local businesses you specifically want to support.