NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Middle Tennessee State University’s Business and Economic Research Center announce a partnership to launch the region’s first Business Confidence Index — a quarterly index informed by a survey that will measure the confidence and sentiment of regional business leaders about the local economy. 

This marks the first localized business sentiment barometer for Middle Tennessee, providing data comparable to national benchmarks such as the Conference Board’s CEO Confidence Index.

“This new business confidence index will give us real-time feedback on how employers are feeling about the local economy and allow us to identify the region’s most pressing needs,” said Stephanie Coleman, president and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. “These insights will help guide our work with business leaders, policymakers, and community partners to ensure Middle Tennessee continues to thrive.”

Launching in the first quarter of 2026, the survey will be distributed to more than 1,200 executive leaders such as CEOs, CFOs, and business owners across Middle Tennessee. Results will be publicly released quarterly and will help document local business confidence, track economic trends, and inform regional decision-making. Survey participants will receive early access to findings ahead of the public release.

“Our aim is to deliver practical information that business owners, planners, and public officials can immediately apply,” said Murat Arik, Ph.D., director of MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center, housed in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business.

“By equipping leaders with pertinent information, we can strengthen the region’s economic resilience and long-term competitiveness.”The survey will be distributed from MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center, and the results of the survey will be released in the second quarter of 2026.

For more information on these organizations, please visit https://nashvillechamber.com/  and https://berc.mtsu.edu/.