Central Lofts LLC is owned by Memphis development and property management partners Amin Zaki and Khalid Alwan, who together bring more than 35 years of combined experience across single-family, multifamily, retail and industrial projects. Zaki and Alwan have overseen the redevelopment of more than 900 multifamily units and 10 condominiums in Midtown Memphis, including the $12 million renovation of 1030 Poplar Ave. and the $10 million redevelopment of the Bonsai property.

The project represents a total capital investment of more than $20 million. Under the terms approved by the Board, Zaki and Alwan will maintain the affordability commitment established when the project was first approved, reserving 20 percent of the community’s 127 units for residents with low-to-moderate incomes.

“Central Lofts sits in a part of Memphis with real momentum, and leaving 127 apartments unfinished was not an acceptable outcome for that neighborhood,” said EDGE President and CEO Dr. Joann Massey. “Just as important, the property will generate substantially more tax revenue during the PILOT than it did while sitting vacant. Our goal is to use incentives as tools where they can help move projects from possibility to reality, strengthen neighborhoods, and grow the tax base for Memphis and Shelby County.”

The post EDGE Board Approves Transfer of Central Lofts to New Ownership Team, Preserving 127 Apartments Near Liberty Park first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

EDGE Board Meeting
3:00 p.m.

1. Call to Order/Roll Call
2. Chairman’s Opening Comments
3. Public Comments
4. Approval of July 15, 2026 Board Meeting Minutes
   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
5. Central Lofts Residential PILOT Assignment Request
   ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES & REPORTS TO THE BOARD
6. Shelby County Suburban Alliance Annual Update
7. Other Business
8. General Counsel Report
9. President’s Report
10. Other Remarks
11. Adjourn

CANCELED PUBLIC NOTICE
of the
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINANCE COMMITTEE
of the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE)
Industrial Development Board of the
City of Memphis and County of Shelby, Tennessee

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all residents of the City of Memphis and County of Shelby, Tennessee, and to all persons interested that the open and public meeting of the Economic Development Finance Committee of the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) Industrial Development Board of the City of Memphis and County of Shelby, Tennessee scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at Junior Achievement of Memphis & the Mid-South, Simulation Space, 516 Tillman Street, Memphis, TN 38112 is CANCELED.

The post Wednesday, August 19, 2026: EDGE Board Meeting first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

Learning from our peers
Economic development organizations rarely have structured opportunities to compare how they operate. Most interaction happens at conferences or in short sessions – and usually in a competitive context. That leaves limited room for the kind of detailed conversation that produces useful information.

Our EDGE Exchanges are designed to fill that gap. Each visit is a working session with peer organizations in markets facing challenges similar to ours: workforce development, business attraction, small business support, and infrastructure investment. We share how EDGE operates, ask how they operate, and identify practices worth adopting or adapting here.

The value is practical. Testing a new program is expensive and slow, but learning firsthand how a peer organization already operates is impactful.

Three organizations, two days, countless insights
EDGE met with the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA), the regional economic development organization for Southern Nevada; the Las Vegas Chamber, including the team behind its new Small Business Resource Center; and the City of Las Vegas economic and community development staff leading the city’s urban core strategy.

1. Workforce. Workforce was the primary concern in all three meetings. Shifting expectations around remote work, gaps in the talent pipeline, and difficulty forecasting which skills employers will need are affecting how each organization approaches business attraction and retention. These are the same conditions we are managing in Memphis.
2. Competitiveness versus incentives. LVGEA emphasized moving the conversation away from incentive-driven attraction and toward overall competitiveness: infrastructure, talent availability, and quality of life. Incentives help close projects, but they do not create the conditions that generate them. This is consistent with how EDGE evaluates projects.
3. Regional perception. All three organizations described working to broaden how their region is understood beyond what it is best known for. LVGEA is actively communicating growth in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, and technology in Southern Nevada. Their most effective tools have been consistent success story communication and familiarization tours that bring decision-makers into the region. Memphis faces a comparable positioning challenge.
4. Small business service delivery. The Las Vegas Chamber’s Small Business Resource Center is located in City Plaza, directly across from City Hall, with the Secretary of State’s office in the same building and Workforce Connections upstairs. Staff from the state’s business hub are embedded on the Chamber floor. The co-location allows a business owner to address multiple needs in a single visit, and it is certainly a model worth examining as EDGE continues to build out small business support.
5. Urban core redevelopment. The City of Las Vegas maintains an active downtown redevelopment strategy that includes regular developer roundtables and targeted public investment, including parking. Healthcare, technology and fintech, and sports and entertainment are their fastest-growing sectors.
6. Stakeholder communications. Each organization invests in regular newsletters, investor updates, and stakeholder engagement. The City coordinates district-level communications with council members and operates its own television station. The Chamber’s small business newsletter distributes information on grants, member activity, and ecosystem events.

Why this matters
These exchanges are becoming a signature part of how EDGE works. Memphis has a great deal to teach. We have proven models in small business lending, port and industrial asset management, and community-led planning that other regions want to understand.

We also have a great deal to learn. Every conversation gives us a clearer read on where Memphis stands among peer metros, a set of tested ideas we did not have to build from scratch, and a growing national network of practitioners willing to share openly. That network is an asset for this region, and we intend to keep building it.

That is what powering progress through partnerships looks like, whether the partner is down the street or across the country.

The post EDGE meets with economic development leaders in Las Vegas first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

The credential holds particular significance for Dr. Massey as a leader in a region anchored by one of the largest inland ports in the United States. While Memphis and Shelby County continue to strengthen their position as a national hub for logistics, distribution, and advanced manufacturing, the CPE designation reinforces Dr. Massey’s commitment to EDGE’s role in advancing the infrastructure and partnerships that keep the local economy competitive.

Awarded with Continuing Education Units through the Engineering Institute of Canada, the CPE designation places Dr. Massey among a growing network of nearly 1,000 senior port and marine professionals across North America and internationally.

“Memphis has always been a place where location, logistics, and opportunity meet,” said Dr. Massey. “Together with our partners, we are strengthening the systems that move goods, create jobs, and connect Memphis to the world.”

The achievement reflects her ongoing commitment to professional excellence and leadership development in service of economic growth across Memphis and Shelby County.

“The Port of Memphis is powered by EDGE, so deepening my expertise in maritime leadership is another way we can ensure our region continues to leverage every strategic advantage we have,” said Dr. Massey.

The post EDGE President & CEO Dr. Joann Massey Earns Certified Port Executive Designation first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

The Economic Development Finance Committee awarded a $25,000 Small Business Loan for JTAP Kitchen, LLC. Funds will be used to complete improvements to the 4,000 square foot space constructed in 1925 and located at 3397 Summer Avenue. As a new fine dining restaurant, these investments will strengthen operational capacity, improve the guest experience, and create a more inviting venue for daily dining and private events.

The Small Business Loan Program is designed to help local entrepreneurs access the capital they need to grow and create jobs across the community. Supporting founders at every stage, from startup to scale, remains a central pillar of EDGE’s mission and one of the region’s most powerful economic advantages.

The full board also addressed key administrative priorities, including the appointment and election of officers and committee leadership, alongside financial and organizational reports. Additionally, the PILOT Performance Review & Compliance Committee met to discuss open projects, including PMC Biogenix.

EDGE remains committed to fostering a coordinated ecosystem where entrepreneurs, businesses, and community partners can connect to resources, capital and opportunity. Collectively, we are strengthening neighborhoods and positioning Memphis and Shelby County as a hub for innovation and inclusive growth.

The post EDGE Board advances economic development priorities at July meetings first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

Economic Development Finance Committee Meeting
2:30 p.m.

1. Call to Order/Roll Call
2. Public Comments
3. Approval of the June 17, 2026 Meeting Minutes
   LOAN OPPORTUNITIES
4. JTAP Kitchen, LLC
   ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES & REPORTS
5. Announcement of Chair and Vice Chair
6. Other Remarks
7. Adjourn

EDGE Board Meeting
3:00 p.m.

1. Call to Order/Roll Call
2. Chairman’s Opening Comments
3. Public Comments
4. Approval of June 17, 2026 Board Meeting Minutes
   ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES & REPORTS TO THE BOARD
5. Appointment / Election of Officers and Committees
6. Other Business
7. General Counsel Report
8. Financials
9. President’s Report
10. Other Remarks
11. Adjourn

PILOT Performance Review & Compliance Committee Meeting
3:30 p.m.

1. Call to Order / Roll Call
2. Chairman’s Opening Comments
3. Public Comments
4. Approval of the September 17, 2025 Meeting Minutes
5. PMC Biogenix PILOT Review
6. Other Remarks
7. Adjourn

The post Wednesday, July 15, 2026: EDFC, EDGE Board, and PILOT Committee Meetings first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

Hosted by EDGE at the Renasant Convention Center, this year’s event welcomed entrepreneurs, business support organizations, community partners, and residents for an afternoon dedicated to celebrating local businesses and the impact they make every day in neighborhoods across our community.

Beyond just an expo, the gathering served as another activation of Entrepreneurship City – the initiative launched by EDGE and the City of Memphis to connect founders with the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to start, grow, and scale successful businesses.

Celebrating the businesses building Memphis
Throughout the Expo, attendees had the opportunity to meet the entrepreneurs behind many of Memphis’ beloved businesses, engage directly with local partners, hear their stories, and learn more about the journeys that transformed ideas into thriving companies.

Many participating businesses have benefited from EDGE’s Small Business Loan Program, which has helped neighborhood-serving businesses invest approximately $9 million into their communities while creating nearly 600 jobs since the program launched. These opportunities create jobs, activate commercial corridors, provide gathering places, and help define the unique character of Memphis neighborhoods.

Honoring a Memphis legend
One of the highlights of this year’s Expo was recognizing Uncle Lou’s Fried Chicken Founder Louis Martin III with EDGE’s inaugural Small Business Legacy Award.

For decades, Uncle Lou’s has been a community institution, demonstrating how a locally owned business can create lasting economic and cultural impact while remaining deeply rooted in the neighborhood it serves. The award recognizes businesses whose legacy extends beyond commercial success to include community investment, resilience, and a lasting contribution to Memphis’ entrepreneurial story.

Introducing Culture Corner, sponsored by TVA
New this year, EDGE unveiled Culture Corner, sponsored by TVA, to celebrate the important role artists, creatives, and cultural entrepreneurs play in Memphis’ economy. The interactive space featured local artists, singers, performers, and musicians, highlighting how creativity fuels innovation, strengthens neighborhoods, and contributes to economic growth.

Culture Corner reflected a simple truth: economic development isn’t only about buildings and business recruitment. It’s also about supporting the creative talent that makes Memphis distinctive and helps attract people, investment, and opportunity.

Building the future through Entrepreneurship City
The Small Business Expo demonstrated what is possible when entrepreneurs have access to support, capital, mentorship, and meaningful connections. As Entrepreneurship City continues to grow, EDGE remains committed to helping founders transform bold ideas into thriving businesses that strengthen communities across Memphis and Shelby County.

Thank you to our sponsors, partners, participating businesses, volunteers, and everyone who attended the Fourth Annual Small Business Expo. Together, we are creating an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive – and where Memphis continues to grow through innovation, collaboration, and opportunity.

The post Small Business Expo celebrates Memphis entrepreneurs and community partnerships first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

The EDGE Board approved an amendment to the lease held by Enterprise Products Partners, L.P. at the Port of Memphis. This reinforces the Port’s role as a critical economic asset and supports continued industrial activity and investment along the Mississippi River.

A Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resiliency (C-PACER) financing request was also approved for McLean Partners LLC for up to $11.02 million. This will support the development of senior living communities at 34 McLean Boulevard and 35 and 51 South Barksdale Street in Memphis. C-PACER financing provides access to long-term, fixed-rate capital for energy efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability improvements in commercial properties.

“EDGE is committed to strengthening Shelby County’s economic foundation through strategic, community-centered investments,” said EDGE President and CEO Dr. Joann Massey. “Each incentive approved in today’s EDFC and EDGE board meetings builds a stronger, more competitive Shelby County economy. We are focused on providing resources that help businesses grow, create jobs, and improve quality of life across our region.”

The Economic Development Finance Committee also met and approved Small Business Loans for Destination Education Academy of Memphis, Inc. and Brilliant Minds Childhood Education Center. Through small forgivable loans, the program has invested more than $9 million in Memphis neighborhoods.

Jacolbie Hardy, owner of Destination Education Academy, was awarded a $25,000 Small Business Loan to go toward $60,000 worth of work that includes structural repairs, interior reconfiguration, painting, lighting upgrades, a new emergency entrance, and updated signage. These enhancements will improve the facility’s safety, functionality, and appearance at 4064 St. Elmo.

As the founder of Brilliant Minds Childcare Development Center, Dr. Irma Davis will use an $18,000 Small Business Loan toward work at 1019 Berclair Road that includes new signage, upgraded fencing and lighting, installation of gutters and downspouts, and refreshed landscaping. These funds allow the center to improve and upgrade its exterior while maintaining a safe, welcoming environment and keeping childcare affordable for families. It also supports hiring three additional local, part-time employees.

The post EDGE Board Approves Port Lease Extension and C-PACER Financing, Two Small Business Loans first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

As Memphis continues to strengthen its entrepreneurial ecosystem through Entrepreneurship City, Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis & Shelby County (EDGE) will bring together small business owners, creatives, support organizations, lenders, and community partners at its Fourth Annual Small Business Expo on June 25 at the Renasant Convention Center.

The Expo serves as a key activation of Entrepreneurship City, the initiative launched by EDGE and the City of Memphis to connect founders, small businesses, and innovators with the resources, relationships, and opportunities needed to grow and succeed. This year’s event will also introduce Culture Corner, sponsored by TVA, highlighting the important role artists and creative enterprises play in the local economy.

“Entrepreneurship City is about creating an environment where entrepreneurs can access the support, connections, and opportunities they need to thrive,” said EDGE President and CEO Dr. Joann Massey. “The Small Business Expo showcases what’s possible when we invest in local talent, whether that’s a neighborhood restaurant, a technology startup, a retail business, or a creative entrepreneur.”

WHAT: Fourth Annual Small Business Loan Expo
WHEN: Thursday, June 25, 2026, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Renasant Convention Center, Riverfront Rooms 1-5 (255 N Main St, Memphis, TN)

Since 2014, businesses supported through EDGE’s Small Business Loan Program have invested approximately $9 million into the communities they serve and created nearly 600 jobs. Many of those entrepreneurs will be featured at the Expo, providing attendees with a firsthand look at how local businesses are strengthening neighborhoods, commercial corridors, and the broader Memphis economy.

Culture Corner will feature participation from the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission and the City of Memphis Office of Creative & Cultural Economy, along with performances and showcases from local artists, designers, photographers, and other types of performers.

Attendees will have opportunities to connect with organizations dedicated to helping businesses launch, grow, and thrive.

The Small Business Expo is free and open to the public.

The post Entrepreneurship City Brings Memphis Entrepreneurs, Small Businesses and Creatives Together at Fourth Annual EDGE Expo first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

Economic Development Finance Committee Meeting
2:30 p.m.

1. Call to Order/Roll Call
2. Public Comments
3. Approval of the April 15, 2026 Meeting Minutes
   LOAN OPPORTUNITIES
4. Brilliant Minds Childcare Development Center
5. Destination Education Childcare Center
   ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES & REPORTS
6. Other/Remarks for the Good of the Order
7. Adjourn

EDGE Board Meeting
3:00 p.m.

1. Call to Order/Roll Call
2. Chairman’s Opening Comments
3. Public Comments
4. Approval of May 20, 2026 Board Meeting Minutes
   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
5. Enterprise Pipeline Addendum to Lease
6. The Iris at Midtown C-Pacer Loan Approval
   ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES & REPORTS
7. Other Business
8. General Counsel Report
9. Financials
10. President’s Report
11. Other/Remarks for the Good of the Order
12. Adjourn

The post Wednesday, June 17, 2026: EDFC and EDGE Board Meetings first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.