Greater Memphis Chamber

Press Releases

  • Four reasons to perform a cyber risk and vulnerability assessment

    Nearly three months into 2023, and organizations are diving into everything from tax season to long-term business planning. But there are compelling reasons to add a cyber risk and vulnerability assessment to the list, too.

  • Richardson eyes $220M investment in Memphis

    Memphis, Tenn. (Friday, April 14, 2023) – Richardson International, a global leader in agriculture and food processing, plans to invest $220 million to upgrade and modernize its Wesson Oil plant in Midtown Memphis and continue employing more than 100 employees pending approval of local programs.

  • Chamber Names First Workforce Leadership Academy Class

    Memphis Workforce Leadership Academy has selected 24 fellows for its inaugural class. Fellows will learn how to improve outcomes for workers and employers in Memphis as Greater Memphis prepares for unprecedented job growth. Greater Memphis Chamber was one of eight organizations chosen earlier this year for a Workforce Leadership Academy by the Aspen Institute. MEMPHIS,…

  • Chamber opens registration for 2023 Memphis teacher externs, hosts

    The Greater Memphis Chamber is accepting teacher extern and company host applications as part of its 2023 Teacher Externship Program at memphischamber.com/externs The goal of the program is to build bridges between classrooms and businesses to help high school teachers better educate their students about future career opportunities Teacher externs will receive $2,500 stipend and…

  • Ireland-based PBC BioMed to open first U.S. Office in Memphis

    PBC BioMed, a medical device design and development company headquartered in Shannon, Ireland, today announced that it will open first U.S. office in Memphis, TN.

  • MSS Steel Tubes USA LLC to open $6M Memphis plant, create 129 jobs

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Wednesday, 1/8/23) – The Greater Memphis Chamber today joined MSS Steel Tubes USA LLC, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, and other elected officials in announcing that the company plans to invest $6 million to open its first U.S. steel tubes production plant in Memphis, creating 129 jobs.

  • Aspen Institute selects Memphis for Workforce Leadership Academy

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Friday, 1/6/23) – The Greater Memphis Chamber and the Aspen Institute today announced plans to create the Memphis Workforce Leadership Academy, a year-long program to equip local leaders with the skills, knowledge, and resources to advance workforce development in the region.

  • Memphis MSA sets new jobs record in November 2022

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022) – The Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) added 2,700 jobs in November to set a record of 671,500 total jobs, according to the latest report from the Greater Memphis Chamber’s data and analytics arm, the Center for Economic Competitiveness (CFEC). Read the report here.

  • Ford, Greater Memphis Chamber announce mobility innovation competition

    MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 13, 2022 – Greater Memphis Chamber President & CEO Ted Townsend today announced that Greater Memphis and West Tennessee have been selected for Ford’s transformative, community-centered, two-year mobility innovation challenge.

  • Chamber unveils Black business grant winners

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Tuesday, 12/13/22) – The Greater Memphis Chamber, in partnership with IKEA U.S. Community Foundation, today announced the winners of five competitive grants for Black-owned businesses in the Greater Memphis region at its 22nd Annual Chairman’s Luncheon.

  • Chamber taps Gwyn Fisher to head economic development

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Thursday, 12/1/22) – Gwyn Fisher, a Memphian who has played a pivotal role in attracting jobs and investment to Greater Memphis for nearly a decade, will join the Greater Memphis Chamber as its chief economic development officer on Dec. 14, the Chamber announced today.

  • Memphis MSA adds 700 jobs to set new record in August

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2022) – For the fifth time in six months, the number of people on non-farm payroll in the Memphis metropolitan statistical area hit a new record high in August, according to a new report from the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Center for Economic Competitiveness (CFEC). To read the full report, click…

  • RDX opens new HQ in Memphis

    Memphis, Tenn. (Friday, October 7, 2022) – Marking the start of a new era and laying the foundation for its future growth, Memphis-based transportation company RDX, LLC today officially opened its new headquarters where the Mall of Memphis once stood on American Way.

  • Four expert strategies for business cybersecurity management

    As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, the costs associated with data breaches and losses will become even steeper. Research performed by IBM in 2022 showed that, on average, a cybersecurity incident cost businesses an average of nearly $4.4 million – a huge sum for anyone, but particularly crippling for small companies. Deloitte counted higher insurance…

  • Greater Memphis sets new record for jobs

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Monday, 8/29/22) – Greater Memphis set another jobs record in July 2022 as its leisure and hospitality industry made a complete recovery from Covid-19 pandemic job loss, according to the latest report from the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Center for Economic Competitiveness (CFEC). Greater Memphis added 3,200 jobs in July 2022 – a 0.48%…

  • Greater Memphis sets new jobs record in June

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Monday, Aug. 15, 2022) – The Greater Memphis Chamber’s Center for Economic Competitiveness today released its Jobs Brief for June 2022. Read the full report here.

  • Coalition led by Workforce Mid-South wins $21.5M Good Jobs grant for Memphis region

    A local coalition led by Workforce Mid-South was today awarded $21.5 million through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge to expand economic mobility opportunities across the region. Through the Mid-South Center for Occupational Innovation (MCOI), under the Workforce Mid-South umbrella, this group will establish three transformative one-stop Accelerated Skills Training (AST) Centers serving…

  • Greater Memphis Chamber launches new certification for local staffing agencies

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Monday, 7/11/22) – The Greater Memphis Chamber today announced its new Gold Standard Certification to distinguish staffing agencies with fair and equitable business practices.

  • Greater Memphis Chamber releases May 2022 Jobs Brief

    The Greater Memphis Chamber’s Center for Economic Competitiveness released its May 2022 Jobs Brief on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. Here are the highlights from the report:

  • Mid-South Quality Productivity Center to close on June 30

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Tuesday, 6/28/22) – After more than 34 years as the leading source of efficiency and productivity training for the region, the Mid-South Quality Productivity Center will close on June 30.

  • Ted Townsend to succeed Beverly Robertson as president/CEO of Chamber

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Thursday, June 24, 2022) – Keeping ‘prosperity for all’ at the core of its mission, the Greater Memphis Chamber Board of Directors unanimously voted Thursday to name Chief Economic Development Officer Ted Townsend as President & CEO Beverly Robertson’s successor.

  • Chamber launches STEM Teacher Externship Program

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Friday, 6/17/22) – Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to ‘lead from the front’ in career preparation, the Greater Memphis Chamber last week launched its STEM Teacher Externship Program. This new program will embed teachers from across West Tennessee in local businesses to give them a greater understanding of careers in science, technology, engineering, and…

  • Chamber unveils growth plan prosper memphis 2030

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Monday, June 6, 2022) – The Greater Memphis Chamber today unveiled Prosper Memphis 2030, a new strategic growth plan designed to make its region more inclusive and prosperous.

  • Regions’ David May named chairman of Chairman’s Circle

    Regions Bank executive David May to lead Chairman’s Circle at crucial time for region, with record levels of economic development and employment. May to lead business community response to heavy workforce demand, sets bold goal of introducing five new accelerated workforce training opportunities in 2022. Launched in 2013, the Greater Memphis Chamber Chairman’s Circle is…

  • Global Tech Company Ookla® Expands Operations in Tennessee

    Memphis, Tenn. (May 5, 2022) – Ookla®, an internationally recognized leader in network intelligence and connectivity insights, today opens its new office at the University of Memphis Research Foundation (UMRF) Research Park. Well known for its flagship consumer platforms, Speedtest® and Downdetector®, which are the gold standard for network measurement and status monitoring, Ookla’s commitment…

  • New report shows Tennessee Valley Authority impact on Shelby County

    TVA helped add nearly 22,000 jobs with $1.8 billion in income from 2015-2020, according to a study from the Center for Economic Competitiveness, an initiative of the Greater Memphis Chamber. TVA-involved economic development projects boosted the economy by $2.4 billion and paved the way for another $4.1 billion in new sales in those five years.…

  • Greater Memphis Chamber to relocate, remain Downtown

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Friday, 4/8/22) – The Greater Memphis Chamber will relocate its office this summer to The Tower at Peabody Place in Downtown Memphis, an upgrade that will let the region’s lead economic development organization better showcase Memphis to companies from around the world.

  • Chamber secures new health coverage option for small businesses

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Wednesday, April 6, 2022) – The Greater Memphis Chamber and UnitedHealthcare today announced the launch of new health care coverage designed to help small businesses offset the rising costs of health care while also offering quality benefits in a highly competitive job market.

  • MSQPC announces new training opportunities for small businesses

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Monday, 3/14/22) – The Mid-South Quality Productivity Center (MSQPC), a champion of excellence since 1988, is excited to announce three new training opportunities to help the small businesses of the Greater Memphis Chamber improve the quality and productivity of their workforces.

  • Memphis Sees Sharp Growth in Supply Chain/Logistics Jobs, per new CFEC report

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Wednesday, 2/23/22) – Cementing Greater Memphis’ reputation as the nation’s “logistics capital,” the region’s supply chain and logistics industry far outpaced the national average for job creation and sharply increased its contributions to the economy in 2015-2020, according to a new report from the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Center for Economic Competitiveness (CFEC).

  • Chamber Announces Young Professionals Council 2022 Board

    The Greater Memphis Chamber is proud to announce its Young Professionals Council (YPC) 2021 executive board. The board is composed of 12 emerging leaders from various industries who are driven to engage young professionals in the Greater Memphis region with opportunities to connect and learn from local leaders as well as build relationships with likeminded…

  • Memphis’ Digital Delta selected as finalist in Build Back Better challenge

    Local coalition in competition for $100 million to supercharge Memphis economy

  • Doug Browne named Chairman of Greater Memphis Chamber board

     Board also approves Greg Duckett and Duncan Williams as vice chairmen 

  • Chamber launches Small Business Resiliency Playbook, website

    MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2021) – Ahead of Small Business Saturday, the Greater Memphis Chamber today launches its new Small Business Resiliency Playbook and website, two resources designed to help local businesses recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19. Containing the insights of roughly 50 local business experts and leaders, the free downloadable playbook…

  • Tennessee General Assembly closes special session on COVID-19 issues

    Nov. 1, 2021 — The Tennessee General Assembly on Oct. 27 gaveled in its special session to discuss COVID-19 related topics. The session started with 82 House bills and 86 Senate bills, but House and Senate leadership pieced together the different bills to make an omnibus bill — HB9077/SB9014. After an intense three days, the…

  • Chairman’s Circle joins work creating strategic growth plan for Memphis

    Continuing its mission to move Memphis forward, the Greater Memphis Chamber Chairman’s Circle met for a Brain Trust meeting on Oct. 12, 2021, to brainstorm how to create a thriving regional economy.

  • Prospero more than doubles job commitment in major Memphis expansion

    Memphis, Tenn. (Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021) – Prospero Health, a physician-led home-based medical care company, announced today from its new downtown Memphis location that it will create 530 jobs in Shelby County over the next five years, an expansion of its 2019 commitment of adding 249 jobs over five years. Michael Scarbrough, Prospero’s co-Founder, President, and Chief…

  • New ‘Memphis Moves’ campaign to promote region to the world

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021) – The Greater Memphis Chamber’s Center for Economic Competitiveness today launches its first initiative, Memphis Moves, at the Autonomous Robots and Logistics Conference at the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis. The national marketing campaign will highlight some of the many reasons companies are choosing to join the regional movement that is Memphis — including that the region is No. 1 for diversity in its growing technology workforce. 

  • Ted Townsend completes transition to Chamber

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Oct. 1, 2021) – Ted Townsend today officially completes his transition into the role of chief economic development officer of the Greater Memphis Chamber, allowing him to continue and expand on the major economic victories the Chamber has scored for the region over the past year. 

  • Greater Memphis Chamber launches Center for Economic Competitiveness

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Sept. 30, 2021) – The Greater Memphis Chamber today launched the Center for Economic Competitiveness, a new initiative aimed at bringing its vision of “prosperity for all” to life. 

  • Ford Selects Memphis Regional Megasite for $5.6 Billion Investment

    Ford, SK Innovation to make single largest investment in Tennessee history with new electric vehicle and battery plant at the Memphis Regional Megasite, 63 years after Ford leaves Memphis market

  • HopeWorks awarded Chamber Quality Cup Award

    Hopeworks , an organization that helps people in Memphis and the Mid-South find meaningful employment through Adult Education, Employment Services, and holistic Reentry was awarded the 2020 Chamber Quality Cup Award during their 30th Anniversary Open House that took place at their new 3337 Summer Avenue location in Memphis on August 2, 2021.  The Award…

  • Business Facilities names Memphis the global and metro leader in logistics

    August 2, 2021 – Memphis, TN stands atop the leaderboard of Logistics Leaders in Business Facilities’ 17th Annual Rankings Report. 

  • Paragon Bank invests to increase local homeownership

    At Paragon, we talk a lot about community. We know customers enjoy the level of technology and services offered by megabanks while also seeking the kind of care and respect they receive from friends and neighbors. In the tradition of neighbors helping neighbors, we invest in the communities we serve. And one way we do…

  • Outfront Media Offers Free Billboard Advertising to Black-Owned Businesses

    Greater Memphis Chamber investor Outfront Media has committed to expanding opportunities to black businesses through the launch of their new campaign, Black Businesses Matter. The Black Businesses Matter campaign is giving back to black-owned businesses by providing 30 days of free digital ad space on select billboards throughout the Memphis area. This campaign can provide…

  • Atlantic Track, Shelby County Schools & Chamber Announce New Apprenticeship

    On Wednesday, June 2, Chamber investor Atlantic Track was awarded $46K to upskill 20 existing employees with Incumbent Worker Training under the Business Grants offered by Workforce Mid-South, a partner of the American Job Centers(AJC) in conjunction with the State of Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Atlantic Track was reconnected with the American…

  • Chamber Names Amity Schuyler as New SVP of Workforce Development

    Memphis, Tenn. (May 26, 2021) – The Greater Memphis Chamber announced Amity Schuyler as its new Senior Vice President of Workforce Development. Schuyler currently serves as Chief of Strategy and Innovation for Shelby County Schools (SCS), prior to SCS she served as Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Education for the State of Tennessee. In…

  • EDGE & Greater Memphis Chamber Named Top 25 Economic Development Partnership in the Nation

    Memphis, TN (May 3, 2021) For the second year in a row, the economic development efforts of EDGE and the Greater Memphis Chamber have been recognized as a one of the nation’s top 25 economic development partnerships receiving the prestigious Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development.

  • YPC Host First Virtual Professional Development Workshop

    In March, the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Young Professionals Council (YPC) held its first virtual professional development event that was fully attend by some of Memphis’s emerging leaders. YPC Professional Development Co-Chairs Jeremy Calhoun and Leslie Finch teamed up to plan an Enneagram workshop where members had the opportunity to take the Enneagram test free of…

  • Ernest Strickland Named President & CEO of Black Business Association

    The Black Business Association of Memphis (BBA) named Ernest Strickland as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.  Strickland joins the organization after serving as Senior Vice President of Workforce Development for the Greater Memphis Chamber.  In his new role, Strickland will oversee the 47-year-old organization that empowers entrepreneurship and improvement of business and growth…