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When big companies say "no" to the "It" city

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NASHVILLE, Tenn — From Bridgestone to Amazon, Nashvillians have gotten used to big companies that want their corporate offices in Music City.

But what happens when those companies say no.

The company Waste Management decided not to move to Nashville late last year, and an article in the latest issue of Chief Executive magazineexplains why: the CEO said he passed on Music City because of its pace behind other cities when it comes to transportation, and the smaller size of its airport.

Eric Johnson, dean of Vanderbilt's business school, says there's likely another reason Nashville didn't get the jobs. Nashville didn't offer tax incentives.

"Incentives certainly have to be part of the conversation, and for a company like Waste Management, bringing one thousand jobs to Nashville, they certainly would be expecting something," Johnson said

Waste Management ultimately decided to stay in Houston.