Updated: 5:43pm CST

REPRESENTATIVES of host Philip Morris International's U.S. business last week signaled to an audience of several dozen Nashvillians that it will soon release criteria under which innovation advocates in this and other key cities may choose to compete for a projected five $50K pro-innovation grants to each of five cities, further details to be announced.

Held at a riverside Nashville venue, last week's program -- Nashville: the Next Frontier of Innovation -- represented just stop on the PMI U.S. team's "Community Futures Challenge City Tour: Shaping America's next 250 Years."

Ahead of the gathering, invitees, including this reporter, were informed that The Challenge City Tour is "designed to discover the next-generation entrepreneurs, civic and business leaders who are actively reshaping local economies through innovation with societal impact."

Advance communiques from PMI U.S. representatives also explained that attendees of the June 25 event are free to nominate "innovators and community leaders tackling America's toughest challenges in areas including workforce development, economic mobility, public infrastructure and civic technology in this exciting year-long, nationwide campaign..."

Late this afternoon, a PMI US spokesperson provided a project summary page here.

Further details on all this are expected from PMI US yet this month, possibly before the 250th Anniversary of our nation's independence, July 4. 

However, two PMI U.S. press releases provide meaty context for last week's luncheon -- and potential insight into the views of Nashvillians and other Americans on a very timely topic.

Today's PMI U.S. press release: "Americans are losing patience with innovation that doesn't make life better..." 

PMI U.S. release May 20: "PMI U.S. launches yearlong American250 initiative celebrating and accelerating American innovation and reinvention."

The PMI US spokesman confirmed the polling has been supported by the Harris Poll.

The abovementioned PMI U.S. releases are not earth-shaking, but they do seem to capture a rare moment in the evolution of this and any other municipality, as well as that of our nation.

VNC's interest in today's PMI U.S. release was further heightened by a separate reminder today from Nashville Innovation Alliance regarding its forthcoming Annual Forum on July 30, here in town.

For details on the Innovation Alliance event, see VNC's July 2026 Venture Calendar, just out today here. VNC

last edited 1743 30 June 2026