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Columbia State Receives $15,000 Metallica Grant for Lineworker Scholarships

Issue #791

August 11, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌤️ Columbia’s Wednesday Weather - Clouds & sun with a thunderstorm w/ high of 90, low of 73

📰 Columbia State Receives $15,000 Metallica Grant for Lineworker Scholarships

🫖 Nashville Tea Co. Closes Columbia Café After Six Years, Looks Ahead to Next Chapter

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Columbia State Receives $15,000 Metallica Grant for Lineworker Scholarships

Columbia State Community College has once again been selected to participate in the Metallica Scholars Initiative, receiving a $15,000 grant to provide scholarships for students in its Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy.

This marks Columbia State’s fourth time participating in the initiative. The college has received $190,000 in Metallica Scholars support since the program began, making Columbia State the first community college in Tennessee to receive a grant through the initiative.

“The continued support of the Metallica Scholars Initiative is creating life-changing opportunities for future lineworkers across Middle Tennessee,” said Patrick McElhiney, director of grants at Columbia State. “By investing in our Pre-Apprentice Lineworker Academy, this grant helps remove financial barriers and opens the door to a high-demand, essential profession. These scholarships empower students to pursue meaningful careers while helping build the skilled workforce that keeps power flowing to homes, businesses, and communities throughout our region.”

Metallica’s James Hetfield said, “This thing started as a dream. Now our program is changing lives. To expand our impact on a global scale and support even more students is so rewarding. We’re so proud of all the Metallica Scholars who have come through it and all the ones who will participate in it. It’s humbling to know we’ve been part of the journey of thousands of trade professionals doing good, hard work in the world.”

The Metallica Scholars Initiative was launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands, Metallica’s foundation, in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges. The program supports students pursuing career and technical education, including fields such as welding, plumbing, electrical work, healthcare, automotive repair, firefighting and EMT, pipefitting and agriculture.

Now in its eighth year, the initiative expects to support nearly 4,000 new students in the United States and more than 1,000 learners in the United Kingdom.

The initiative supports 93 colleges nationwide. Corporate partners include Carhartt, Wolverine, CNH Construction, Upstaging Inc. and ServiceTitan.

For more information about Columbia State’s participation in the Metallica Scholars Initiative, visit here.

Nashville Tea Co. Closes Columbia Café After Six Years, Looks Ahead to Next Chapter

From Nashville Tea Co’s post on August 8th…

After more than six wonderful years, Nashville Tea Co Café at the Factory at Columbia has officially closed.

This is certainly a bittersweet moment, but more than anything, it's one filled with gratitude.

When I opened the café, I wasn't simply opening a tea shop. I wanted to create a place where friends could gather, where young women felt safe, where families could connect, and where every person who walked through our doors felt welcomed, seen, and valued.

Looking back, I realize that's exactly what happened.

To our incredible Columbia community—thank you. Your celebrations, conversations, friendships, first dates, business meetings, quiet afternoons, and countless memories became part of our story. You embraced Nashville Tea Co from the very beginning, and I will always be grateful.

I also want to thank The Factory at Columbia for giving us a home over the past six years. It was an honor to be one of the original businesses that helped shape this special place and to watch it become an important part of our community.

While our café chapter has come to a close, Nashville Tea Co is not closing.

In fact, we're growing.

Today, we partner with hotels, resorts, spas, retreat centers, entertainment venues, and other destinations to create moments of hospitality through thoughtful tea experiences. We're excited to continue expanding our wholesale partnerships while serving customers across the country through our online store.

And for all of our bubble tea lovers, we're thrilled to share that through our partnership with Gimme Lemme at The Factory, you'll still be able to enjoy Nashville Tea Co bubble tea right where it all began.

Café Asset Sale

As we begin this next chapter, we'll be selling many of our remaining café assets, including:

Furniture, Equipment, Décor, Fixtures, Supplies

Monday, August 10 – Thursday, August 13
5:00–7:00 PM

Former Nashville Tea Co Café - The Factory at Columbia

The café may have closed, but the story of Nashville Tea Co is just beginning. We'd love for you to continue the journey with us.

www.nashvilletea.com
Instagram: @nashvilleteaco

With heartfelt gratitude,

Diane Sheets

Founder, Nashville Tea Co

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Wednesday, August 12th

Thursday, August 13th

Friday, August 14th

Saturday, August 15th

Sunday, August 16th

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Tuesday, August 11
Songwriters Round - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 6-9 PM

Thursday, August 13
Todd Ciprian - Tito's, 6-9 PM

Friday, August 14
Shannon & The Harpeth River Boys - The Spot: Burgers & Beer, 5-8 PM
Ryan Keeler - Buck & Board, 6-8 PM
Open Mic - Grinder's Switch Winery, 6-8 PM
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson - McCreary's Irish Pub & Eatery, 7-9 PM
Zachariah Smith - Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM
Escape - Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Saturday, August 15
The Vineyard Sessions - Natchez Hills Vineyard, 2-5 PM
Nick Bentley - Keg Springs Winery, 2-5 PM
Carson Phillips - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3-7 PM
Johnny Jameson & The Empty Pints - McCreary's Irish Pub & Eatery, 7-9 PM
Curated Writers Round - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Taylor Hughes - Puckett's, 7:30-9 PM
Gritz & Glory - The Boondox, 8 PM
Bonus Track - Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, August 16
The Cliftones - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1-5 PM

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