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Gov. Bill Lee Visits Downtown Columbia to Celebrate National Small Business Week

Issue #430

May 08, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌦️ Columbia’s Weather - Cloudy, thunderstorms later in day w/ high of 78 & low of 57

📰 Gov. Bill Lee Visits Downtown Columbia to Celebrate National Small Business Week

📰 Historic Boost for TN Transportation: $80M Recurring and $1B One-Time Investment Without Raising Taxes 

📌 May 16-25: American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibition at Maury County Public Library

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

👉 Do You Love What’s Up Columbia??? VOTE FOR US HERE!

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

Gov. Bill Lee Visits Downtown Columbia to Celebrate National Small Business Week

From City of Columbia, TN - Government’s post…

The City of Columbia was honored to have Gov. Bill Lee in town in celebration of National Small Business Week 2025! His visit underscored the importance of small businesses to Tennessee’s economy—and to communities like ours.

During his time in Downtown Columbia, Columbia Fire & Rescue, Tennessee swiftly responded to a call at a small business nearby. Thanks to their rapid response and unwavering dedication, the situation was safely resolved. The incident served as a timely reminder of the vital role first responders play in safeguarding the community and ensuring the safety of residents, business owners, and visitors throughout the city.

As National Small Business Week continues, the City proudly celebrates the entrepreneurs, family-owned shops, and local storefronts that bring energy and character to Columbia. The City is proud to stand behind them—not just this week, but every day.

From Mayor Sheila Butt’s post…

What a fantastic day in Maury County! We were honored to host Governor Bill Lee and showcase our downtown small businesses during Small Business Week.

During his visit, we toured several local businesses, including Caledonian Financial, Columbia Health Food Store, Bleu 32, Ted's Sporting Goods, McEwen Group Real Estate, and Puckett's. The Governor had the opportunity to meet with our wonderful small business owners and let them know how much they are appreciated for being the backbone of our economy.

The Governor's visit highlights the importance of supporting local economies, and here in Maury County we appreciate every one of our small business owners!

Thank you to everyone who came out and to those who helped organize this special visit.

Happy Small Business Week!

Historic Boost for TN Transportation: $80M Recurring and $1B One-Time Investment Without Raising Taxes

Tuesday, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced that for the first time in history, the state’s annual budget includes additional dedicated, recurring General Fund dollars for transportation. The $80 million in recurring and $1 billion in non-recurring dollars will allow the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to accelerate, leverage, and add new projects to the department’s fiscally constrained 10-Year Plan.

These funds build on the historic investments and authority granted to TDOT by the Tennessee General Assembly during the past three years, reinforcing the need to build efficiently and effectively to accommodate Tennessee’s exceptional growth. Today, TDOT also released its updated annual plan to include these added funds outlined in the recently passed budget.

“Tennesseans and all who travel through our state will benefit from the historic infrastructure investments we’ve made in partnership with the General Assembly,” said Governor Bill Lee. “I’m grateful for their partnership and willingness to strategically fund transportation projects without raising taxes or going into debt, and this 10-year plan is a bold approach to funding new projects while maintaining our aging infrastructure.”

The first-of-its-kind recurring General Fund dollars are made possible by reallocating a portion of the existing Tire Sales Tax revenue to TDOT. This innovative funding approach doesn’t raise taxes but does increase TDOT’s ability to deliver a higher level of service across Tennessee. This additional money is primarily planned for state-of-good-repair maintenance of pavement and bridges, ensuring the state’s existing infrastructure is properly maintained for years to come.

"This budget and these new investments in transportation and infrastructure will be a game-changer for our state,” said Lt. Governor Randy McNally. “Without raising taxes or debt, we’re accelerating projects, improving safety, and preparing our roads for the future. The General Assembly’s commitment ensures Tennessee stays strong, connected, and economically competitive."

“Thanks to the strong partnership between TDOT and the General Assembly, we’ve made strategic, fiscally responsible investments that have helped accelerate key transportation projects across our state, without raising taxes or taking on debt,” said House Speaker Cameron Sexton. “This budget keeps Tennessee moving forward.”

The $1 billion non-recurring funding will be allocated to additional statewide projects, plus one-time investments in the department’s pavement, bridges, and the Spot Safety Program, and funding into the State Infrastructure Fund for local partnership transportation investments. The $80 million in recurring dollars will be allocated as follows:

◦ Pavement Preservation Program, leading to an additional 130 lane miles resurfaced annually.

◦ Bridge Preservation Program, leading to an additional 700,000 square feet of bridge deck treatment being repaired annually.

◦ Mowing and Litter Program, adding a mowing and litter cycle on interstates and state routes, improving service levels and safety for citizens.

◦ Spot Safety Program to address transportation safety concerns more efficiently and effectively for taxpayers

◦ Rural Service Patrol, expanding our popular urban Help Truck Program to cover an additional 46 counties of rural Tennessee highways, increasing safety and service for all who traverse Tennessee’s rural interstates.

The updated 2025 10-Year Plan contains 96 projects, including Tennessee’s first new interstate trade route in 45 years. Additionally, TDOT introduced something new to the 10-Year Project Map: the checkered flag, which indicates projects delivered to construction.

May 16-25: American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibition at Maury County Public Library

The Tennessee Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution is sponsoring “The American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibition,” an innovative pop-up exhibition includes display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology and unique artifacts and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation

Curated by the American Battlefield Trust, the exhibition will be on display from May 16 - 25, at the Maury County Public Library located at 211 West 8th Street in Columbia

The exhibit hours are Monday - Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Thursday - Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Upcoming Local Events

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

SPECIAL DEAL: Teachers & Nurses Get 50% OFF (as many times as you want) at Fozzy’s Bar & Grill! (Through May 9th) *Tell them you heard about it in What’s Up Columbia!

Thursday, May 8th

Friday, May 9th

Saturday, May 10th

Sunday, May 11th 🌹 Mother’s Day 🌹

📌 Mark Your Calendars…

May 15-17: Franklin Rodeo
May 29 - 31: Music City Rodeo

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Thursday, May 8th

Mary Lou, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito’s Spring Hill, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Neal Pennington, McCreary’s Irish Pub, 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Friday, May 9th

Live Music Fridays, The Spot, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Rob Higginbotham, Buck & Board, 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Johnny Jameson & The Empty Pints, McCreary’s Irish Pub, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Kiersi Joli, Grinder’s Switch, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Troy Kemp, Puckett’s, 7:30 - 9:00 PM
MFT, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

Saturday, May 10th

Tom Dixon, Keg Springs Winery, 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Grasskickers, Amber Falls Winery, 3:00 - 8:00 PM
Mellie Koska, Buck & Board, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Jake Clayton Band, The Rebel, 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Porch Series Writers Round - Michael Farren, Ava Mabury, Dave Kennedy, The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM Reservations Here 
The Wannabeatles, Puckett’s, 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Resurrection, The Mulhouse, 8:00 PM
Zone Status, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

Sunday, May 11th

The Sins, Amber Falls Winery, 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Deltaz Duo, The Rebel, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Archer, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

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