Recent headlines about June’s Small Business Expo focused on $25,000 forgivable loans for small businesses — and rightly so. Sponsored by the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County (EDGE), the event praised and showcased businesses thriving because of the program.
But if you ask EDGE President and CEO Joann Massey, the real announcement at the expo was something much bigger: Memphis is declaring itself “Entrepreneurship City,” promising to make doing business in Memphis easier, faster and more effective for small businesses.
“Entrepreneurship City: Where Grit Meets Growth is more than a campaign,” Massey said at the expo. “It’s a movement.”
Unveiled by Massey and Mayor Paul Young, the Entrepreneurship City initiative aims to position Memphis as a place where entrepreneurs don’t just hustle, they grow, scale and thrive with intention.
“Memphis has always been a city where hustle meets heart,” Young said. “From the shop owner on Lamar to the app builder downtown, our city is full of people who are turning vision into value. We want to make sure the next generation knows: You’ve got an idea? We’ve got your back.”
A hub, not a maze
Entrepreneurship City is both a branding campaign and a systems-level push to address the longstanding barrier for small business owners of navigating a fragmented web of licenses, permits, funding opportunities and support services.
In short, instead of sending entrepreneurs to five different offices, the idea is to create a more centralized, collaborative network that connects businesses with the right people and resources, and doing it fast.
“It’s not about putting everything under one roof,” Massey clarified in a follow up interview. “It’s about wrapping a bow around the existing ecosystem — the dozens of organizations across Memphis and Shelby County that already support small businesses.”
That includes the Entrepreneurs Network Center, the Black Chamber of Memphis, The MMBC (Mid-South Minority Business Council) Continuum, MLGW, the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, the Medical District Collaborative and others — all of whom had a visible presence at the expo.
EDGE is positioning itself as the lead convener in this collaborative framework. Massey noted that her team received nearly 100 inquiries the week following the expo — a sign of both demand and the need for clear access points.
“When someone calls us or calls the Entrepreneurs Network Center, they shouldn’t have to guess where to go next,” Massey said. “We either have the answers, or we can connect them to someone who does.”
What entrepreneurs need to know
So what should an aspiring or emerging business owner be thinking about before reaching out to Entrepreneurship City? Massey recommends four key questions:
- What is your vision? What exactly are you trying to build, and why?
“A lot of people now know the basics — how to get a business license or an EIN,” she said. “But sometimes people think once they’ve got those, they’re all the way in. Yes, they have a business on paper, but what does your business actually do? What are you trying to accomplish?” - What type of business are you really trying to build?
“Sometimes people say, ‘I want to open a restaurant,’ but what they really need to do is start with catering or a food truck or a home-based operation. And that’s OK, but you’ve got to know the difference,” Massey said. - How fast do you want or need to scale?
“How and when you scale matters. Just because you’ve got a good product doesn’t mean it’s time to jump to the next level immediately,” she said. “Some people get ahead of themselves, take on too much too fast, and it can set them back years.” - Who are your customers and are you trying to sell to the right ones?
“When I worked in city government, a lot of people came in saying they wanted to do business with the city. And that’s nice, but the city doesn’t do business with hair salons or massage therapists,” Massey said. “Do you have a service or product the city actually buys? If not, that’s not your customer. Sometimes people get their feelings hurt when they hear that. But it’s not personal; it’s just business alignment. You’ve got to do the research.”
Entrepreneurship on display
While the initiative points toward future structural improvements, the expo celebrated current momentum, including EDGE’s Small Business Loan Program, which has delivered more than $2.7 million in forgivable loans (up to $25,000 per business) to 120-plus Memphis entrepreneurs since its launch less than a decade ago.
Food vendors like Riko’s Kickin’ Chicken, CXFFEEBLACK,and The Fish Net were all recipients of the program, and they offered more than just delicious samples at the expo.
Tiffany Wiley, co-owner of Riko’s Kickin’ Chicken, said the experience reminded her why even veteran entrepreneurs have to keep showing up.
“A lot of times you think because you’ve been in business so long a lot of people know about your business,” Wiley said. “But every time I come to events like this, I realize that I still have to get out and network.”
Wiley was also serving up food from her team’s latest venture, The Hot Dog Hub, located inside the FedEx Hub. “We’re doing all-beef hot dogs, our hot and honey gold wings and our seasoned wings as well,” she said, laughing as guests followed the fragrance to her table. “They come by like, ‘I smell something so good.’”
Across the room, Allison Merriweather, co-owner of The Fish Net, spoke about maintaining momentum after more than 30 years in business.
“You should always continue to recreate your brand,” said Merriweather, whose restaurant has been a staple on Lamar Avenue since 1991. “Different people are always moving into the community. Some are looking for something new. You’ve got to stay visible.”
With help from EDGE’s funding, Merriweather was able to give her restaurant a facelift and hire more staff. “It’s made a lasting impact,” she said.
Building the Memphis of her dreams
Massey sees Entrepreneurship City as a long-term play that could fundamentally change how Memphis supports neighborhood revitalization and generational wealth.
“If we want thriving communities, we need thriving small businesses,” she said. “Nationally, 80% of new jobs are created by small businesses. In Memphis, our estimate is closer to 70%.”
The initiative also includes a “Kidpreneur” campaign in partnership with Junior Achievement of Memphis, designed to spotlight young entrepreneurs, some of whom will have their products gifted to major corporations moving into Memphis.
“Imagine a kid looking up at a billboard, and seeing someone their age as a business owner,” Massey said. “That’s transformational.”
Asked what Entrepreneurship City/Memphis looks like in five or 10 years, Massey didn’t hesitate.
“It’s the Memphis of my dreams — thriving for all,” she said. “A Memphis that optimizes our culture, our geography and most importantly, our people.”
Young: Seize the moment
In his remarks at the expo, Young reiterated his belief that Memphis is on the rise.
“I really believe this, y’all, to my core: This is our moment in our city right now,” he said. “I know we hear a lot of other stuff. But this is our moment. And we have to own this moment. We have to own it with growth and with the scaling of businesses like yours.”
The mayor also acknowledged the vision of FedEx Founder Fred Smith, who launched the iconic brand as a scrappy startup in the Bluff City decades ago.
“We’re walking in the footsteps of giants,” Young said. “(Smith) started off just like you. He had a dream. He didn’t just build a company. He built a movement right here in Memphis.
“He started with an idea, a dream of how to move packages across the world, and the world was literally changed right here in Memphis. Y’all give it up for that,” Young continued, calling for applause.
“Give it up for him. But I also want you to give it up for yourselves because I want you to know, the innovation that started a multi-billion-dollar company like FedEx is right here in this room. That same energy still lives in our streets, in our neighborhoods and in our people.
“So let’s build. Let’s grow. Let’s show the world that in Memphis, big things start small. And they don’t just survive. They scale. They soar.”
