Mold Remediation in Shelbyville, IN

A high-end country club for car lovers. Expansion for Middle Tennessee State University. A new Riverwalk.

Last year, The Tennessean detailed several growth initiatives happening throughout Shelbyville and Bedford County.

Several of these projects have new updates. And there are more projects coming as the area continues to grow. Check out what's happening and when in our roundup below:

Tennessee Downs

The Tennessean reported the plans for Tennessee Downs, a high-end country club for car enthusiasts set to open on Highway 231 in Shelbyville, last April. Once complete, Tennessee Downs will consist of a clubhouse with restaurants and boutique shops, a 2.5-mile track concourse, a new home for GC Performance Classics and combination garage/condos where auto enthusiasts can store high-end cars.

Owner Jeremy Carpenter said there has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes in the last year, including retaining track designer and consultant Robert Barnard to design the club's roadway.

"Robert has designed our circuit and is working with a local civil engineering firm out of Franklin to do our site planning and track design," Carpenter said. "We are 95% complete on excavation, grading and design plans."

He said he hopes to break ground this year, and it could be as soon as late summer.

MTSU Aerospace

In 2022, we reported that MTSU was in talks with Shelbyville and Bedford County about relocating its Aerospace program to the Shelbyville Municipal Airport. The Shelbyville City Council approved the university's request this month, and it will now head to the state level for final approval.

If the measure is approved at the state level in the coming months, it would create a second MTSU campus focused solely on aviation training.

City approval came after a unanimous vote and on the heels of $67 million in state funding for the project, approved last year. MTSU's aviation program is celebrating its 80th year.

Greg Van Patten, dean of MTSU's College of Basic & Applied Sciences, said the professional pilot program has more than doubled in size during the last six years.

"This expansion into Shelbyville is critical, partly because of the demand from students," Van Patten said. "The growth of the program has put a strain on our fleet and on our instructors. We have about 900 students in the professional pilot program, and in any given semester, more than half of them are scheduled to fly."

Nearest Green Distillery

Nearest Green Distillery recently opened Humble Baron, billed as the 'world's longest bar' at 518 feet with 202 barstools. The restaurant and bar serves upscale food and craft cocktails backed by a live music stage and sound system designed by the team that did Prince's Paisley Park.

Barrell House BBQ opened at the distillery last April and owners Keith and Fawn Weaver have purchased adjoining acreage for future development there. The Weavers also own a building just off the downtown square in Shelbyville with plans to open Classic Hops, a a high-end burger joint and brewery. Weaver estimated it to be an $8 million investment. An updated timeline on Classic Hops wasn't available yet, but should be coming this summer.

Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Shelbyville

Tennessee College of Applied Technology recently broke ground on its new campus that will bring newer, more functional buildings and classrooms, a more convenient location and nearly 40,000 more square feet of space.

The Bedford County Board of Education has approved moving forward with the purchase of the current TCAT building. Those funds will be used to help fund construction of the new building, according to Laura Monks, president of TCAT Shelbyville. This will also allow TCAT to stay in its current building until the new one is ready.

An updated completion date was unavailable, but Monks said they remain committed to moving the entire campus to the new facility and are continuing through the bidding process needed before construction can begin.

Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration

Thanks to a 20-year sponsorship of The Celebration's indoor arena by Cooper Steel, the arena is undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation, according to Warren Wells, Celebration CEO.

Renovations include new paint, updated bathrooms, a complete new façade, new lighting and sound systems, new doors and windows and an update to the Hall of Fame Club. The goal, he said, is to have the upgrades complete in time for the Celebration event in 2024.

"We are able to renovate between events, so we haven't had to cancel anything," Wells added. "We are very excited about that."

The Celebration grounds are also home to a new location for Mikey's Motors, a golf cart rental and sales company. The building should be open by end of May or first of June. Wells said Mikey's Motors supplies golf carts for the Celebration event, but will also be a location to buy carts.

Downtown Shelbyville/Riverfront

A Riverwalk, park and playground area along the Duck River is planned to include a proposed amphitheater, recreational access and downtown entertainment. The Duck River runs right along the side of downtown Shelbyville and poses an opportunity for connectivity between downtown and the riverfront.

The first phase is the 'Overlook,' led by engineering firm Neel-Schaffer. S8 Designs is the architect and Matt Taylor, owner of S8, said the Overlook project includes construction of a scenic river overlook and observation deck, rehabilitation of the existing multi-use path, removal and replacement of fencing, installation of decorative pedestrian lighting and banners, landscaping, installation of a historic placard and mitigation of vegetation along the riverbank.

The city has also asked for bids for the building that backs up to the river and fronts downtown Shelbyville — a key piece of property that will ultimately connect the river and downtown. Shane Hooper, CEO of the Shelbyville Bedford Partnership, said there are several regional restaurants interested in the property.

"I do expect something significant to happen here," Hooper said. "(Bids) are due in by May 1, so the city council will decide at its next meeting how the project will move forward."

Melonee Hurt covers growth and development at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee. Reach Melonee at mhurt@tennessean.com.