Memphis made its mark this week as leaders from across the region and country gathered downtown for the American Dream Initiative Solutions Summit, hosted by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in partnership with EDGE, the City of Memphis, Start Co., and the Greater Memphis Chamber. This two-day event brought together some of the brightest minds in economic development, business, policy, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship to exchange ideas and elevate Memphis as a model for inclusive and forward-thinking growth.
Held at The Peabody Memphis Hotel and Beale Street Landing, the summit convened local, state, and national leaders to explore how to expand opportunity and upward mobility for families and communities in the Greater Memphis area. Sessions spanned a range of critical topics – from preparing for the future of artificial intelligence, to unlocking housing abundance, to designing investment strategies that will shape Memphis for decades to come. The event’s energy was tangible, and the message clear: Memphis is ready to lead.
Event highlights
The summit dove into action-oriented discussions through a series of engaging panels. Topics included:
- Artificial Intelligence and the Future of the Workforce – Experts discussed how AI is transforming the labor market, what skills will be most valuable in the years ahead, and how cities like Memphis can prepare their workforce for this shift.
- Investing in Memphis: The Next 50 Years – Featuring FedEx Founder and Executive Chairman Fred Smith, this conversation focused on the long-term strategies that Memphis must pursue to ensure lasting economic success.
- Unlocking Housing Abundance in Memphis: A Playbook for Growth – With housing affordability at the center of many economic challenges, panelists explored innovative strategies for building a more sustainable, inclusive housing market in Memphis.
- Entrepreneurship’s Role in Economic Growth – EDGE President & CEO Dr. Joann Massey joined a panel of thought leaders to discuss the role of entrepreneurship in driving inclusive development — especially for historically underserved communities.
#PoweringProgressThroughPartnerships
The summit also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of collaboration. From philanthropic foundations and academic researchers to civic officials and local business owners, participants represented a wide range of stakeholders – all aligned in their commitment to expanding the promise of the American Dream in Memphis.
EDGE’s role in the summit reflected its broader mission to drive inclusive economic growth through strategic investment, public-private partnerships, and direct support for entrepreneurs. Whether through facilitating major site selection projects or supporting small business owners with capital and resources, EDGE remains focused on building a stronger economy for all Memphians.
Memphis on the map
There’s no doubt that Memphis’ momentum was visible at the conference, with panelists and participants highlighting the real progress happening here and the collaborations that are making it possible.
New relationships were forged. Existing ones were strengthened. And perhaps most importantly, a national spotlight was cast on Memphis as a city ready to lead the next chapter of American economic development.
As Dr. Massey put it during her panel remarks: “We have a saying here: ‘Grit & Grind.’ I like to say, ‘Grit & Growth.’ We always have to be working at it and working together to achieve that growth.”
This spirit of determination and partnership was echoed throughout the summit – a reminder that progress doesn’t happen by chance. It takes intentional effort, aligned leadership, and community-rooted strategies. The conversations at the event were clear: Memphis has the grit, the vision, and the momentum to keep growing.