Memphis is a city built on grit, and nowhere was that spirit more alive than at EDGE’s Small Business Loan Expo, held last Thursday at the Renasant Convention Center in Downtown Memphis. Entrepreneurs, community partners, and city leaders came together for a day dedicated to celebrating small businesses and unveiling an ambitious new vision for Memphis’s future.
Spotlight on local success
The day kicked off with buzz across local media. On WREG’s Live at 9 Thursday morning, Dr. Joann Massey, EDGE President and CEO, sat down alongside Harrison Downing, co-owner of Hard Times Delicatessen, one of Memphis’s favorite new sandwich shops and a proud Small Business Loan recipient.
Downing shared Hard Times’ journey from three chefs working in other people’s kitchens to opening their own upscale delicatessen in a once-abandoned building in the Edge District. Thanks to EDGE’s support, their dream became reality. Downing explained how EDGE helped them prepare for the application and interview process.
Dr. Massey highlighted the impact of the Small Business Loan Program, noting that EDGE has approved over 120 loans totaling $2.7 million for local small businesses. She shared that the expo is an opportunity for these businesses to connect with the community, share who they are, and highlight their products and services.
Partners like the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, Memphis Medical District Collaborative, MMBC Continuum, MLGW, Pathway Lending, Black Chamber of Memphis, and Black Business Association of Memphis were also on hand at the event, demonstrating the deep ecosystem that is dedicated to supporting local entrepreneurs.
Introducing “Entrepreneurship City”
This year’s Expo was about more than just celebrating the successes of small businesses – it was about raising the bar even higher. During his opening remarks, Memphis Mayor Paul Young unveiled “Entrepreneurship City: Where Grit Meets Growth,” a new citywide initiative developed in partnership with EDGE.
Entrepreneurship City focuses on supporting Memphis’s visionaries, builders, and doers, recognizing their contributions across all neighborhoods. The campaign aims to unify small business support and connect the city’s innovative thinkers with essential resources, relationships, and opportunities for growth, fostering an environment where hustle meets heart and big ideas can scale.
Nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs
Helping young entrepreneurs is also part of the plan. EDGE announced the upcoming “Kidpreneur Broadcast Series,” developed with Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South, to inspire the next generation of business owners. At the Expo, this year’s “Kidpreneur,” Juliana, was recognized for her own budding business success – a reminder that the entrepreneurial spirit has no age limit.
A movement, not just a campaign
On Friday, Dr. Massey appeared on Action News 5’s A Better Memphis to share even more about the Entrepreneurship City initiative. She emphasized that while EDGE will continue its flagship incentive work, programs like the Small Business Loan Program are also central to its mission.
EDGE is committed to building a local economy where entrepreneurship is celebrated and supported at every level. Through Entrepreneurship City, we’re nurturing people, neighborhoods, and the future of Memphis.
As the Expo wrapped up, it was clear that Memphis is defining itself as a city where entrepreneurship thrives. The stories shared, connections forged, and new initiatives announced this week signal that Memphis is ready to keep growing and to keep saying “yes” to the bold dreams of its people.