Williamson County likes to treat companies to a good dose of Southern hospitality. Businesses choosing it as a base can be eligible for "concierge permitting," which assigns them a dedicated staff member from the local codes department who helps speed up zoning and permitting issues.
The charm offensive, combined with the county's highly skilled workforce and easy access to downtown Nashville, is paying off. Corporate giants like Verizon Wireless, Nissan Americas and United Health Group have flocked to the region.
The latest major player to join the 6,000 corporations that have outfits here is Viacom, which launched a services center this year that is expected to create more than 100 new jobs.