Today Music City leaders announced Good to Go, a first-of-its-kind program designed to improve safety for residents and visitors as Nashville-area businesses begin reopening. The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. (NCVC) launched the program in collaboration with Vanderbilt Health and Ryman Hospitality Properties (RHP) to pave the way to restart Nashville businesses in a healthy and sustainable way.
The voluntary program asks Nashville-area businesses to commit to health standards from the Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It also gives participating businesses free access to toolkits and support to help carry out the recommendations in a way that is consistent across Music City. The Vanderbilt Health Employer Solutions team worked closely with VUMC Infectious Disease experts to develop key elements of the program and will be involved with ongoing learning and information sharing.
Participating businesses will be given a special green music note to display at their locations and on their websites and materials to indicate their commitment to following these safety standards. Additionally, participating businesses will be recognized on a new Good to Go website that will be promoted to visitors. Business interested in joining Good to Go can sign up online by June 4.
“We encourage every business in Nashville to join Good to Go. We believe this is the first program of this kind in the nation to provide uniform industry guidelines and comprehensive toolkits for businesses throughout the city in response to COVID-19. We want to show the world that through cooperation and collaboration, Nashville is safe and sound,” said Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of NCVC. “As destinations begin to open, Good to Go will help Nashville stand apart as it ensures that our business community is following all public health guidelines and has access to leading experts at Vanderbilt Health. It will give all those who live and come to Nashville confidence and peace of mind that we are safely open for business.”
To participate, businesses must agree to adopt all applicable guidelines set forth by MPHD and CDC and participate in Good to Go’s enhanced learning program. In return, businesses will receive regular information and insights from infection prevention experts at Vanderbilt Health, key learnings and best practices from Ryman Hospitality Properties leaders and access to new resources as recommendations change.
Good to Go program benefits include:
- Signage to display Good to Go’s signature green music note
- Business listing on Good to Go website
- Access to program toolkit and materials on infectious disease prevention and workplace safety informed by Vanderbilt experts
- Insights into best practices from RHP leaders
- Monthly calls with fellow Good to Go participants
- Timely access to Vanderbilt Health infectious disease professionals for questions
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Nashville has carefully managed many of the issues that have disproportionately impacted other major cities. Our success has been possible through creative problem solving by leaders from government and major industries who have joined together around a shared vision for how best to help the city get safely back to business,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, president and CEO of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “Good to Go will ensure that informational tools and best practices are readily available for businesses working to keep their employees and customers safe. Vanderbilt Health is proud to play a leadership role in this effort.”
“Ryman Hospitality Properties began working with Vanderbilt Health in the early days of the pandemic to provide the teams at all of our properties—including restaurants, entertainment venues and our hotels—direct access to the nation’s foremost experts on infectious disease control,” said Colin Reed, chairman and CEO of Ryman Hospitality Properties. “We helped spearhead Good to Go because we wanted to make elements of our early work with Vanderbilt Health available so that other Nashville businesses could have access to the tools, resources and information needed to operate a business until a vaccine or treatment is available for COVID-19.”
