Memphis Chamber wins five Excellence in Economic Development awards

Wednesday, 20 September, 2023

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023) – The Greater Memphis Chamber today announced that it is the winner of five Excellence in Economic Development Awards from the world’s largest organization for economic developers, including a gold award for its work to recruit Ford’s BlueOval City.

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) announced the awards Tuesday during its annual conference after receiving 580 submissions, the most in its history. The Chamber, which is the lead economic development organization for its region, won in the following categories:

• GOLD – Regionalism & Cross-Border Collaboration. The Chamber worked closely with regional and state partners to secure Ford and SK Innovation’s BlueOval City electric vehicle and battery manufacturing campus near Memphis in 2021. The $5.6 billion, 6,000-job project, set to begin production in 2025, is the largest private investment in the history of Ford and of Tennessee.
• SILVER – Annual Report. The Greater Memphis Chamber’s 2022 Annual Report (read it here), which highlights the Chamber’s mission and impact in 2022, was created in collaboration with Memphis-based design firm Harvest Creative, Wilson PR, and RedRover Sales & Marketing Strategy.
• BRONZE – Print Brochure. The Chamber’s research and analysis center, the Greater Memphis Economic Research Group (GMERG), this year launched a series of reports (available for purchase here) to provide deep, data-based insights into key industries for Greater Memphis. Using the data from the reports, the Chamber has created one of the most research-driven business recruitment strategies of any chamber in the nation.
• BRONZE – Special Purpose Website. The Greater Memphis Chamber launched its economic development-focused website, MemphisMoves.com, in 2021 as part of its broader Memphis Moves business recruitment campaign. The sleek, user-friendly website was designed with a goal of helping companies decide to create jobs and invest in Greater Memphis.
• BRONZE – Resiliency, Recovery & Mitigation. To help small businesses struggling to outlast the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chamber in 2021 created a free, downloadable Small Business Resiliency Playbook (available here) in collaboration with Wilson PR. Containing the insights of roughly 50 local business experts and leaders, the Playbook was designed to last, giving small businesses a survival guide for navigating any major financial crisis or business disruption.

QUOTES:

• Ted Townsend, President & CEO, Greater Memphis Chamber: “When I became president and CEO of the Chamber in December, I told Memphis we were going to need a bigger trophy case, and we are already making good on that promise. Thanks to IEDC for shining an international spotlight on Greater Memphis and one of the hardest-working chamber teams in the nation.”
• Gwyn Fisher, Chief Economic Development Officer, Greater Memphis Chamber: “We wake up every day with a goal of building a greater Memphis for all through economic development, workforce development, and advocacy. These awards confirm that our innovation, creativity, and collaboration – which really reflect the spirit of our community – are making a difference.”
• Dotty Summerfield Giusti, Small Business Council Co-Chair and President of Summerfield Associates Inc.: “From global manufacturers like Ford to small businesses like mine, the Chamber shows up for its businesses. The Chamber’s commitment to growing Memphis is on full display in this international recognition and I have no doubt there are many more awards for excellence in its future.”
• Michael Scarbrough, Chair of the Greater Memphis Chamber Chairman’s Circle and CEO of Optum at Home: “As chair of the Chairman’s Circle, I’ve had a front-row seat to the incredible work the Chamber and our business leaders are doing to build a greater and more prosperous Memphis for all. Congratulations to the Chamber team on this well-deserved recognition.”

About the Greater Memphis Chamber: One of Memphis’ oldest institutions, dating back to 1838, the Greater Memphis Chamber is a privately funded nonprofit that serves as the region’s lead economic development organization and the “Voice of Memphis Business” on local, state, and national issues. The Chamber’s mission is to relentlessly pursue prosperity for all — through economic and workforce development, pro-growth advocacy, and by providing support and resources to its investors, which include many of the region’s largest employers. For more information about the Chamber, visit memphischamber.com and memphismoves.com. Also, follow the Chamber on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, and sign up for its weekly newsletter, Memphis Fourword.