Metro investment chief

Metro/Nashville chief investment officer Fadi Bousamra's prior strong performance may have played a role in Metro's tempered response to misstatements he reportedly made on his original Metro employment. The Tennessean reports. Our earlier report on Bousamra's role.

VU in extraordinary push with Metro Schools

Vanderbilt University, its Peabody College of education and human development and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools announced yesterday free tuition is available for qualified applicants for a new Master's in teaching in urban schools, for those willing to teach at least three years in Metro Schools, to help improve literacy, math and-or science. The VU release is here.

Convention Center curveball from Fitch Ratings

The push for the Music City Center Convention Center may've taken a hit this morning, with Fitch Ratings announcing a slight downgrade in bond ratings for Davidson County. The announcement late this afternoon is here. One source close to the MCC debate suggested to VNC there could soon be better ratings forthcomings from other ratings services.

Cook Systems lands Metro IT contract

Memphis-based Cook Systems has won an IT services and staffing contract withe Metro Nashville government, according to the Commercial Appeal.

Metro General's Coopwood to the Med

Memphis Daily News reports Dr. Reginald Coopwood, M.D., who heads the Metro hospital authority and its Metro General Hospital at Meharry, has been chosen the CEO of the Regional Medical Center at Memphis (the MED). A Nashville native long associated with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Coopwood took the Metro position in 2005.

Metro in hedge funds

Metro Nashville Chief Investment Officer Fadi Bousrama told VNC Friday that the investment committee of the Metro employee benefit system agreed Nov. 19 to approve investing up to 10 percent of fund assets in hedge funds. An RFP will be out eventually for a hedge-fund advisor, but the RFP's issuance is "not even close." The advisor retained will be asked to create a special-purpose vehicle for Metro and to help develop policy. The SPV will contain "equity long/short hedge funds," said Bousrama. Other tactics may also be employed, subsequently. VNC's original story is here.

Peabody's Guthrie: 'Schools deceive'

Peabody Prof. Jim Guthrie (left) and Research Associate Arthur Peng, colleagues at Vanderbilt University's Peabody Center for Education Policy at Peabody College of Education and Human Development, say public school districts 'always have money to spend', and are essentially misleading the public about the 'funding crisis'. Here's the article.

Metro ousts State Fair

WSMV 4 (NBC) in Nashville is reporting tonight that Metro Nashville Mayor Karl Dean (at left) has decided that the Tennessee State Fair will no longer occupy a portion of the 117 acres near Bransford Avenue that is also home to a major flea market, the local roller-girls franchise and auto racing. We've long thought that the Metro's prime real estate would be a great place for a corporate sci-tech R&D and incubator campus, or a conference and exhibitions center. The mayor's decision follows a consultant's report and many years' debate.

Metro CIO looks at distressed assets

Metro Nashville Chief Investment Officer Fadi Bousrama is looking more closely at distressed debt offerings, hedge funds and more. The story's here.

e-Vehicle chargers at Metro campus

Coulomb Technologies announced today that the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County is the first municipality in the State of Tennessee to install and deploy ChargePoint™ Networked Charging Stations for plug-in electric vehicles. The charging stations are in the 700-space garage on Metro's Fulton Campus.

Mayor Dean - How 'bout a Science charter school?

Charter Schools have attracted business elite and frustrated parents, alike, and with this week's expansion of state law to allow up to 20 charters in Nashville, things could get interesting. Note: An admittedly ramshackle proposal from a local professor to create a Metro science academy charter has failed three years in a row. Maybe Metro Nashville Mayor Karl Dean (left), whom the City Paper says wants to be involved in expanding charters here, will consider recruiting someone to help create a charter to rival schools in Oak Ridge, Memphis and elsewhere. [Speaking of the Mayor...the 'Nashville: Where Innovation Sings' marketing campaign proposed for the city by those Owen GSM Accelerator Business Institute students will be presented to Hizzoner at 3 p.m. today.]

Mayor enlists in Leadership Music

In a move that might be viewed as consistent with his declared goal of strengthening local Music business, Metro Nashville Mayor Karl Dean is listed among the 54 members of the Leadership Music Class of 2010, announced today.