The Metropolitan Action Commission was created by ordinance on August 12, 1964, for the purpose of securing and expending federal grants in accordance with regulations regarding the eradication of poverty. The original funding for the Metropolitan Action Commission was from the Great Society programs that began during the Lyndon Johnson Presidency. The Metropolitan Action Commission (MAC) was created and has been the designated Community Action Agency for Nashville and Davidson County since 1964 to help indigent individuals and families improve the quality of their lives by advocating the needs of the poor.
The Metropolitan Action Commission is governed by a Board of Commissioners composed of representatives from public, private, and community sectors. The Board of Commissioners oversees every aspect of the program and financial operations of the agency.