• What: Memphis Brownfield Coalition Summit: Past, Present, and Future
• When: Tuesday, September 29 · 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Where: Crosstown Concourse, Church Health Community Room

EDGE is joining the City of Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency, NJIT TAB, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, The Works, Inc., MidSouth Development District, and Grow America for a working session on how contaminated and underutilized properties get returned to productive use.

Municipal and county leaders will get into how EPA and Tennessee BRAG grants apply to underutilized property. Developers, lenders, and financial institutions will cover state tax incentives, Opportunity Zones, and revolving loan funds, followed by an interactive capital stacking exercise. Current EPA and BRAG grantees will share lessons on managing a grant and building community while doing it. Community members and educators can participate in the Placemaker Village and capital stacking sessions.

Register to attend here.

The post September 29: 2026 Memphis Brownfield Coalition Summit first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

The Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Economic Development Growth Engine Industrial Development Board of the City of Memphis and County of Shelby, Tennessee (“EDGE”) will hold an open public meeting and public hearing on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at the Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South Simulation Space, 516 Tillman, Memphis, Tennessee 38112. There will be considered at such meeting amendments to the Economic Impact Plan for Legacy at Countrywood (the “Plan”) which shall be submitted to the County Commission of Shelby County, Tennessee (the “County Commission”) and to the City Council of the City of Memphis, Tennessee (the “City Council”). The amendments to the Plan include the extension of the term of the increment from twenty (20) years to thirty (30) years and to extend the expenditure of the increment for eligible expenses to all Plan areas. In connection with such proposed amendments to the Plan, the Board will held a public hearing relative to such Plan amendments as required by Tenn. Code Ann. Section 7-53-312(g). If the Plan is approved by the County Commission and by the City Council, certain incremental property tax revenue from the area that is the subject of the Plan would be made available to the Board to pay eligible project costs or to pay debt service on bonds or other obligations issued by the Board to pay such costs. The area that would be subject to the Plan is generally described as approximately 175 acres owned by CC Club Holdings, LLC located within the city limits of the City of Memphis along Interstate 40 near its intersection with Highway 64 adjacent to the Colonial Country Club at 2736 Countrywood Parkway. A copy of the proposed Plan amendments and a map of the site area that is subject to the Plan may be viewed by the public at the offices of the EDGE at 100 Peabody Place, Suite 1100, Memphis, Tennessee 38103-3652. This Notice is published in compliance with Sections 8-44-101 to 8-44-106, inclusive, Tennessee Code Annotated.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GROWTH ENGINE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF THE
CITY OF MEMPHIS AND COUNTY OF SHELBY, TENNESSEE.

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The Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Economic Development Growth Engine Industrial Development Board of the City of Memphis and County of Shelby, Tennessee (“EDGE”) will hold a public meeting and public hearing on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 3:00pm p.m. at the Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South Simulation Space, 516 Tillman, Memphis, Tennessee 38112. There will be considered at such meeting an Economic Impact Plan for the 3535 Central Avenue Project (the “Plan”) which will be submitted to the County Commission of Shelby County, Tennessee (the “County Commission”) and to the City Council of the City of Memphis, Tennessee (the “City Council”). In connection with such proposed Plan, the Board will hold a public hearing relative to such Plan as required by Tenn. Code Ann. § 7-53-312(g). If the Plan is approved by the County Commission and by the City Council, certain incremental property tax revenue from the area that is the subject of the Plan would be made available to the Board to pay eligible project costs or to pay debt service on bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the Board to pay such costs. The area that would be subject to the Plan is generally described as the former site of the Third Church of Christ Scientist Church at the intersection of Central Avenue and Highland Street, near the University of Memphis campus at 3535 Central Avenue located within the city limits of the City of Memphis. A copy of the proposed Plan and a map of the site area that is subject to the Plan may be viewed by the public at the offices of the EDGE at 100 Peabody Place, Suite 1100, Memphis, Tennessee 38103-3652. This Notice is published in compliance with Sections 8-44-101 to 8-44-106, inclusive, Tennessee Code Annotated.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GROWTH ENGINE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF THE
CITY OF MEMPHIS AND COUNTY OF SHELBY, TENNESSEE.

The post Notice of Public Meeting and Public Hearing by the Board of Directors of the EDGE Industrial Development Board first appeared on Economic Development Growth Engine.

The Board of Directors (“Board”) of the Economic Development Growth Engine Industrial Development Board of the City of Memphis and County of Shelby, Tennessee (“EDGE”) will hold a virtual public meeting and public hearing on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. There will be considered at such meeting such business as may properly come before the Board including, but not limited to, the approval of the submission of a proposed Third Amendment to The Economic Impact Plan for The University District-Highland Strip (the “Plan”) to the Shelby County Commission of Shelby County, Tennessee (the “Shelby County Commission”) and to the City Council of the City of Memphis, Tennessee (the “Memphis City Council”). The existing Plan was approved by EDGE on September 21, 2016, by the Memphis City Council on October 18, 2016, and by the Shelby County Commission on October 31, 2016. The Plan has been amended two times with the approval of EDGE, the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission. The Third Amendment to the Plan will only be to: i) Remove parcels on an area generally described as the former site of the Third Church of Christ Scientist Church at the intersection of Central Avenue and Highland Street, near the University of Memphis campus at 3535 Central Avenue located within the city limits of the City of Memphis (“3535 Central Parcel”) to allow the 3535 Central Parcel to be placed into a proposed Economic Impact Plan for the 3535 Central tax increment financing; and ii) To increase the length of the tax increment financing term for the UNDC TIF from Twenty (20) years to Thirty (30) years upon approval from the Tennessee Comptroller. In connection with such proposed amendment to the Plan, the Board will hold a public hearing relative to such Plan amendment as required by Tenn. Code Ann. § 7-53-312(g). A map of the area that continues to be subject to the plan, as well as the 3535 Central Parcel may be viewed by the public at the offices of the EDGE at 100 Peabody Place, Suite 1100, Memphis, Tennessee 38103-3652, on or after August 28, 2026 by appointment made by calling (901) 341-2102.

This meeting is open to the public. This Notice is published in compliance with Sections 8-44-101 to 8-44-106, inclusive, Tennessee Code Annotated.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GROWTH ENGINE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF THE
CITY OF MEMPHIS AND COUNTY OF SHELBY, TENNESSEE.

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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.