Hosted in partnership with EDGE, Start Co., the City of Memphis, and numerous regional organizations, ACE brought together delegates representing countries throughout North, Central, and South America to explore how regions build economic momentum through infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and strategic partnerships. Throughout the week, Memphis had the opportunity to showcase its global connectivity and the partnerships and strategies helping translate growth into opportunity.

Showcasing Memphis as a global hub
The week began with opening remarks led by City of Memphis Mayor Paul A. Young, U.S. Ambassador Leandro Rizzuto, and OAS Officer in Charge Barbara Kotschwar, and an economic development discussion featuring EDGE President and CEO Dr. Joann Massey, Greater Memphis Chamber Chief Economic Development Officer Gwyn Fisher, and MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen. Conversations centered on Memphis’ position as a global logistics hub, the importance of infrastructure and utilities in supporting growth, and how partnerships continue driving long-term economic competitiveness.

Throughout the week, delegates experienced firsthand what makes Memphis uniquely positioned at the crossroads of global commerce, innovation, and culture.

A visit to FedEx Headquarters highlighted Memphis’ role in global distribution and supply chain connectivity. Delegates learned more about the Memphis World Hub – the company’s largest global sort facility – and explored how data, logistics, and innovation continue shaping the future of commerce from Memphis to markets around the world.

The group also visited the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis, where discussions focused on applied research, emerging technologies, and other efforts helping strengthen the region’s innovation economy.

Innovation, entrepreneurship, and community impact
ACE programming also highlighted Memphis’ broader innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. At Epicenter, delegates explored how Memphis is helping founders build and scale businesses through mentorship, strategic support, and ecosystem partnerships. Conversations focused on emerging industries, including logistics and medical devices, while emphasizing the role entrepreneurship plays in strengthening long-term economic growth. The Innovation Exchange Coalition Showcase further connected global leaders with founders and innovation ecosystem partners working to drive collaboration across borders.

Healthcare and community impact were also central themes throughout the week. Delegates visited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to hear from hospital leadership about global pediatric research, innovation, and long-term strategic growth. At the National Civil Rights Museum, conversations explored the lasting connection between civil rights, social justice, and economic mobility, reinforcing how opportunity and economic development are deeply interconnected.

Place-based investment in action
In addition to Memphis’ major institutions and industries, ACE highlighted how place-based investment strategies are shaping neighborhoods and commercial corridors across the region.

Delegates explored the Memphis Medical District, Downtown Memphis, and Crosstown Concourse to better understand how infrastructure, healthcare, housing, entrepreneurship, arts, and public investment can work together to create connected communities. Visits also included The Works’ neighborhood development initiatives and Northside Square, demonstrating how community-led investment strategies can support housing, workforce pathways, and long-term neighborhood revitalization.

The week also expanded beyond Memphis through visits focused on agriculture innovation and rural economic development, including Rose Creek Farms and Somerville, Tennessee, where delegates learned more about food systems, local entrepreneurship, and rural economic opportunity. Additional programming highlighted workforce development and STEM education through Code Crew and retail innovation through the Orgill Innovation Center.

Powering progress through partnerships
Throughout the week, Memphis shared its collaborative spirit.

For EDGE, ACE represented an opportunity to demonstrate how we are #poweringprogressthroughpartnerships – bringing together public, private, nonprofit, educational, and community partners around a shared vision for growth.

As delegates departed Memphis, they left with a firsthand look at a city where logistics, entrepreneurship, innovation, and neighborhood investment are interconnected parts of a broader strategy to create long-term opportunity.

The post Memphis welcomes global leaders through the Americas Competitiveness Exchange first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

Hosted at Memphis City Hall, the inaugural event brought together business leaders, elected officials, and community stakeholders for a morning of discussion centered on policy, infrastructure, innovation, and civic engagement. Through curated sessions and conversations with city leadership, attendees gained insight into how Memphis is addressing key priorities while strengthening connections across sectors.

The event featured sessions on topics including doing business with the City of Memphis, innovation and artificial intelligence in government, and infrastructure and city operations. Leaders from across city government shared updates and perspectives on how Memphis is approaching operational efficiency, technology, and long-term planning to better serve residents and businesses.

The morning concluded with remarks from Memphis City Council Chairwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington and a keynote conversation with Memphis Police Department Chief C.J. Davis focused on public safety, leadership, and engagement with the business community.

For EDGE, the event reinforced that meaningful progress depends on strong relationships across business, government, and community leadership. That perspective made Dr. Massey’s recognition especially meaningful.

As president and CEO of EDGE, Dr. Massey leads efforts to strengthen economic opportunity through business attraction and expansion, entrepreneurship support, strategic infrastructure, neighborhood reinvestment, and cross-sector collaboration. Under her leadership, EDGE continues advancing initiatives that help create jobs, strengthen commercial corridors, support entrepreneurs, and position Memphis and Shelby County for long-term competitiveness.

The Public Service Leadership Award recognized Dr. Massey’s “outstanding civic leadership and enduring commitment to advancing both community and commerce in Greater Memphis,” a reflection of the community-centered approach that defines both her leadership and EDGE’s mission.

In accepting the award, Dr. Massey reflected on the many forms public service can take and the importance of bringing people together around the shared work of creating opportunity for Memphis. That perspective closely reflects what she has coined as “powering progress through partnerships,” a phrase that has become central to EDGE’s approach to economic development and long-term growth.

The Greater Memphis Chamber’s Chamber Day at City Hall highlighted the value of strong civic leadership and continued dialogue between the public and private sectors as Memphis works to build long-term momentum.

EDGE is proud to celebrate Dr. Massey on this well-deserved recognition and grateful for the many organizations and leaders across Memphis and Shelby County helping create opportunity, strengthen communities, and move the region forward.

The post Dr. Joann Massey recognized with Public Service Leadership Award first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

The event brought together senior executives from across the region for a peer-driven conversation centered on how organizations can strengthen workplace culture, support employee wellness, and build stronger outcomes for both individuals and communities. Through storytelling and discussion, leaders explored the growing connection between organizational health, workforce resilience, and long-term community impact.

Dr. Massey joined a panel alongside leaders from healthcare and industry, including Michael Crystal of Kroger and Monica Wharton of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, with Sam Coates serving as moderator. Together, the panel explored the importance of partnerships in improving both individual and community well-being and discussed how organizations across sectors can work together to create healthier, more connected communities.

For Dr. Massey, the conversation aligned closely with the work EDGE supports every day across Memphis and Shelby County. Economic development is often associated with jobs, investment, and infrastructure, but strong communities also depend on healthy people and workplaces. Access to opportunity, stable employment, strong neighborhood assets, and community partnerships all contribute to broader quality of life and long-term economic vitality.

Throughout the discussion, panelists emphasized that workforce health is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration across business, healthcare, nonprofit, and civic sectors. That idea reflects how thriving communities are built through partnerships.

At EDGE, this means helping create the conditions where businesses, employees, and neighborhoods can grow together. Through supporting employers, strengthening commercial corridors, encouraging entrepreneurship, or helping attract investment that creates quality jobs, economic growth and community well-being are deeply connected.

The breakfast also reinforced the importance of cross-sector dialogue in addressing some of the region’s most pressing challenges. By bringing together leaders with different perspectives and expertise, the American Heart Association created space for meaningful conversations around workforce health, culture, and community impact.

EDGE is proud to have Dr. Massey represent the organization in conversations that strengthen Memphis and Shelby County. The inaugural Executive Breakfast served as an important reminder that when organizations work together around shared priorities, they can create healthier workplaces, stronger communities, and greater opportunity for all.

The post Dr. Joann Massey joins regional leaders for American Heart Association Executive Breakfast first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

Port of Memphis Board Meeting
2:30 p.m.

1. Call to Order/Roll Call
2. Chairman’s Opening Comments
3. Public Comments
4. Approval of the Minutes from the January 21, 2026 Meeting
5. Set June 17, 2026 Meeting Date
6. Approval of FY2027 Port Commission Budget
7. Director’s Report
8. 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 April 15, 2026 Board Meeting Minutes
   ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES & REPORTS
5. General Counsel Report
6. Approval of FY2027 EDGE/IDB Budget
7. President’s Report
8. Other/Remarks for the Good of the Order
9. 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, May 20, 2026, at Junior Achievement of Memphis & the Mid-South, Simulation Space, 516 Tillman Street, Memphis, TN 38112 is CANCELED.

The post Wednesday, May 20, 2026: Port and EDGE Board Meetings first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

The honor reflects Trey’s ongoing commitment to entrepreneurship, relationship-building, and creating meaningful opportunities for others across our city. Through his work at EDGE, Trey helps support small business owners and entrepreneurs navigating growth, access to capital, and long-term development — particularly within the neighborhoods and commercial corridors that are helping shape Memphis’ future.

Trey works directly with local founders and business owners to connect them with resources, strategic guidance, and programs that help strengthen their businesses and communities. His work reflects the broader mission of EDGE: Creating opportunity through partnerships, investment, and economic growth that is visible and accessible across our region.

Beyond his professional role, Trey is widely recognized for his ability to bring people together, and he consistently leads with authenticity, collaboration, and a strong belief in the potential of others. The Gentlemen’s League recognized Trey for those same qualities, noting his commitment to connecting entrepreneurs, building community, and investing in the next generation. The organization’s focus on leadership, fellowship, and empowerment aligns closely with the work Trey advances every day through his service.

At a time when entrepreneurship continues to play an important role in neighborhood revitalization and economic growth, people like Trey help ensure that business development remains rooted in relationships and community impact. His ability to connect strategy with service has made him a trusted resource to entrepreneurs and a valued member of Memphis’ broader economic development ecosystem.

Congratulations to Trey on this achievement! We are proud of the continued impact he is making through leadership, mentorship, and service.

The post Trey Moore recognized as Gentlemen’s League beta inductee first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

That is where the Port of Memphis plays a critical role.

As one of the largest inland ports in the United States, the Port of Memphis provides the kind of multimodal flexibility that helps businesses build stronger, more resilient supply chains. With direct access to river, rail, road, and air, the Port gives companies multiple pathways to move raw materials, finished goods, and oversized freight without overreliance on any single mode.

Resilience starts with optionality
At the Port of Memphis, cargo can transition seamlessly between the Mississippi River, five Class I railroads, major interstate corridors, and the FedEx global air hub. This multimodal connectivity allows companies to shift freight routes when delays, congestion, or capacity constraints affect one part of the system.

That flexibility is especially important for industries moving bulk commodities, manufacturing inputs, steel, agricultural goods, energy products, and large industrial equipment. The ability to move freight by barge when trucking capacity tightens, or transition to rail when timing and scale demand it, reduces risk and improves continuity.

Strategic infrastructure strengthens continuity
The Port’s physical assets are designed to support long-term operational reliability. Three slack-water harbors, industrial parks on Presidents Island and Pidgeon Industrial Park, dry and liquid bulk storage, rail-served industrial sites, and extensive berthing capacity all create redundancy within the system.

That means supply chains are not dependent on a single terminal, warehouse, or transportation path. If one route is constrained, operators can leverage nearby assets within the same logistics ecosystem. This level of built-in adaptability is what allows the Port to support industries that rely on consistency, especially during periods of market volatility, weather events, or national freight disruptions.

EDGE’s role in managing resilience
Resilience requires active stewardship. As the manager of the International Port of Memphis, EDGE plays a central role in ensuring that the Port’s infrastructure, industrial land, and logistics assets continue evolving alongside market needs. That includes supporting lease activity, industrial site activation, multimodal expansion, and long-range planning that keeps freight and industrial operations competitive.

EDGE’s role is especially important in managing Presidents Island and Pidgeon Industrial Park, where industrial occupancy, transportation access, and land availability directly affect how quickly businesses can scale or adapt operations.

This stewardship also extends to Foreign Trade Zone 77, another critical tool that helps companies improve efficiency, manage inventory strategically, and strengthen supply chain flexibility through global trade advantages.

By managing these interconnected assets, EDGE helps ensure the Port remains operationally strong today and positioned for the future.

Why supply chain resilience matters for regional growth
Supply chain resilience has become a major site-selection factor. Companies are increasingly looking for regions where infrastructure reduces vulnerability, improves optionality, and supports domestic manufacturing and reshoring strategies. The Port of Memphis offers central geography, multimodal redundancy, industrial land, and coordinated management.

For Memphis and Shelby County, this resilience supports jobs, industrial growth, business attraction, and long-term economic competitiveness.

The Port of Memphis is where resilient systems are built — supported by strategic infrastructure, operational flexibility, and the long-term stewardship that EDGE provides.

That resilience helps strengthen both supply chains and the regional economy built around them.

The post How the Port of Memphis supports supply chain resilience first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

Across Memphis and Shelby County, rebuilding is one of the most direct ways economic development becomes visible in everyday life through reopenings, expanded hours, adding seating, or upgrading equipment to meet growing demand. These improvements often create ripple effects that strengthen the local economy from within.

This is the kind of place-based progress EDGE is designed to support: Helping entrepreneurs reinvest where they are and turning physical improvements into long-term neighborhood momentum.

Creating pathways for job growth
For many small business owners, the need is not a full-scale relocation or major expansion. It’s the practical improvements that unlock the next phase of growth, such as repairing a roof, updating HVAC systems, refreshing interiors, improving accessibility, adding signage, or expanding production space. When those improvements are made, businesses are better positioned to serve customers, extend hours, increase efficiency, and hire additional staff.

That job growth matters because local businesses are powerful engines of neighborhood employment. Small businesses create jobs close to where people live, helping strengthen local labor markets and contributing to more vibrant, walkable commercial districts. When neighborhood businesses thrive, nearby shops and services often benefit as well, creating a reinforcing cycle of economic activity.

Why local ownership matters
When local entrepreneurs are able to improve and expand their businesses, the benefits stay rooted in the community. Revenue circulates locally through payroll, nearby vendors, taxes, and reinvestment in surrounding properties. This multiplier effect strengthens neighborhood economies in ways that outside investment alone can’t always achieve.

This is what makes place-based reinvestment so powerful. The success of a locally owned business creates momentum that extends beyond the individual storefront, encouraging neighboring investment, stabilizing corridors, and strengthening the identity of the neighborhood itself.

How targeted investment accelerates momentum
Programs that support building improvements, equipment upgrades, and site enhancements help lower barriers that often prevent entrepreneurs from moving forward. For neighborhood-serving businesses, access to flexible capital can be the difference between staying in place and scaling up.

At EDGE, this is one of the ways rebuilding translates into measurable community impact. Through our Small Business Loan Program, businesses can access forgivable funding to support improvements that make their spaces safer, more visible, and better equipped for growth. Those investments strengthen the business itself, but they also improve the corridor around it, bringing renewed activity, stronger perception, and additional customer traffic.

A great example is Hard Times Deli in the Edge District. With support, a long-vacant building was transformed into a vibrant, chef-driven destination. The small business loan aided in the launch of a successful business and helped reactivate a corridor, increase foot traffic, and contribute to the energy of the surrounding neighborhood.

Rebuilding signals confidence in place
Rebuilding communicates confidence in the corridor, business owner, and the neighborhood’s future, which encourages additional investment from nearby property owners, neighboring businesses, and community partners. Over time, that momentum helps stabilize commercial districts and makes long-term ownership more sustainable.

The most effective strategies recognize that physical improvements and economic opportunity go hand in hand. When local entrepreneurs have the resources to reinvest where they are, rebuilding becomes a pathway to stronger ownership, neighborhoods, and economic opportunity.

This is why EDGE’s approach extends beyond funding individual projects. By investing in neighborhood-serving businesses across Memphis, the goal is to help strengthen confidence in entire corridors and create momentum that encourages nearby reinvestment.

The post How rebuilding supports jobs and local ownership first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

The EDGE Board of Directors authorized two expansions of existing PILOT agreements and approved a new jobs PILOT to support a growing local manufacturer, reinforcing Memphis’ position as a competitive hub for advanced manufacturing and logistics.

Among the approved items, Mimeo.com, Inc. received an amendment to its existing Expansion PILOT, increasing its total capital investment from approximately $13.5 million to $44.8 million. In addition, Richardson Oilseed Products US Limited received approval to amend its existing Expansion PILOT, increasing its capital investment from $220 million to $340 million at its facility on Williams Avenue. The increased investment reflects additional modernization and infrastructure needs identified during the rehabilitation of the historic site, including significant upgrades to automation, environmental systems, and production capacity. 

The Board also approved an eight-year Jobs PILOT for Morgan Steel, LLC to support the expansion of its Memphis operations at 2315 Pier Street. The project includes a total capital investment of approximately $11.7 million and will create at least 119 new jobs with an average annual salary of $57,973.

“Today’s approvals reflect the continued momentum we’re seeing across Memphis and Shelby County. From supporting small businesses to advancing larger-scale investment through PILOTs, we are collectively working to build a more dynamic and competitive economic landscape,” said EDGE President and CEO Dr. Joann Massey. “Each of these projects represents new opportunities for job creation, entrepreneurship, and long-term growth. Memphis is moving in the right direction, and we’re committed to ensuring that growth is both strategic and impactful for our community.”

The Economic Development Finance Committee also met and approved a $75,000 in forgivable Small Business Loans. To date, the program has invested more than $9 million in Memphis neighborhoods. 

Rhonda Rooks, the founder and owner of Icon Salon Suites, was approved to receive a $25,000 Small Business Loan for improvements to the salon space at 2185 Young Avenue. Funds will be used for build-out and renovation of the building originally constructed in 1957.

Derrick Abdul-Wakil, owner of Wakil Solutions, LLC, will use $25,000 to help with a variety of interior and exterior building interior improvements at 269 South Parkway West. The business is a Memphis–based marketing company dedicated to helping businesses grow through strategic branding, creative content, and targeted digital solutions.

Additionally, Ladarius Lee, founder of Peace Park Memphis, received a $25,000 Small Business Loan to help complete $68,000 of qualified improvements at 275 North Dunlap Street. Peace Park is a restaurant that aims to promote community, love, peace, and respect through food, relationships, charitable events, and donations.

The post EDGE Board Approves Major Investments Supporting Manufacturing Growth and Modernization 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 February 18, 2026 Board Meeting Minutes
   LOAN OPPORTUNITIES
4. Icon Salon Suites LLC
5. Wakil Solutions LLC
6. Peace Park Memphis, Inc.
   ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES & REPORTS
7. Other/Remarks for the Good of the Order
8. 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 February 18, 2026 Board Meeting Minutes
   ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
5. Morgan Steel Jobs PILOT Approval
6. Richardson Oilseed Expansion PILOT Amendment
7. Mimeo Inc. Expansion Pilot Amendment
   ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES & REPORTS
8. Patton – Tully Marine, LLC. Lease Addendum Request
9. Other Business
10. General Counsel Report
11. Financials
12. President’s Report
13. Other/Remarks for the Good of the Order
14. Adjourn

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

The evening also served as a powerful reminder that transformational growth is built over time through strategic partnerships.

The momentum that was visible on the St. Jude campus is deeply connected to infrastructure investments made possible through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, the City of Memphis, TVA, and EDGE. In 2015, a TNECD FastTrack grant administered by EDGE helped fund critical utility and infrastructure improvements in and around the Pinch District adjacent to campus. Those upgrades, including electric, sewer, gas, telecommunications, and stormwater improvements, helped create the conditions for one of the most ambitious expansion periods in St. Jude’s history.

Over the past decade, St. Jude has invested more than $11 billion into its campus, exceeding its original commitment of 1,800 new jobs by creating 2,473 positions from 2015 to 2024. Looking ahead, the recently announced Advanced Research Center II will continue that momentum, with infrastructure upgrades already helping ensure the project can move forward on schedule.

For EDGE, this progress reflects the long-term value of powering progress through partnerships. When public resources, infrastructure planning, and institutional vision align, the result is job creation, neighborhood revitalization, and a stronger future for Memphis.

Discover St. Jude was a meaningful opportunity to see that progress firsthand and celebrate the partnerships that continue to move our city forward.

The post Discover St. Jude highlights the power of long-term partnership first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.