The document outlines challenges facing Memphis such as high poverty and unemployment rates. It discusses the mayor's vision to make Memphis a "City of Choice" by increasing wealth creation and supporting local small, minority, and women-owned businesses. Currently, minority and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) receive only 1.3% of total business receipts. The document proposes coordinating city efforts and resources to facilitate MWBE growth and participation in city purchasing opportunities. It lists partner organizations that can help businesses access resources to strengthen and expand.

1. C o n n e c t i n g B u s i n e s s R e s o u r c e s & O p p o r t u n i t i e s t o M a k e M e m p h i s a “ C i t y o f C h o i c e ”
f o r A l l .

2. MAYOR’S VISION

3. The number of people leaving Memphis every year: 2,000
Vacant jobs: 16,000
Unemployed: 44,000
Living in poverty: 180,000
Overall Poverty Rate: 27.7%
CITY OF MEMPHIS STATISTICAL DATA
Challenges for the Entire Community

4. ONE STRATEGIC SOLUTION
City of Choice Strategic Imperative:
• Wealth Creation
• Grow Local Small, Minority & Women
Business

5. INCREASING PARTICIPATION OF MINORITY AND
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
MWBEs are only 1.3% of Total Business Receipts.
Memphis’ Minority Population: 75%
Memphis’ Female Population: 53%
2000 & 2010 Disparity Studies, and Wharton
Transition Plan, identified need for City of
Memphis to facilitate a coordinated strategy to
drive growth in minority business receipts
…beginning with City of Memphis purchasing
City Leadership for Minority/Women
Business Development is Critical

6. Leveling the Playing Field =
the Opportunity To Compete
Not a subsidy…
Not affirmative action…
Winning contractors must offer the best
value – highest quality at the best price
SOLUTIONS

7. CI SOME WAYS THAT MORE CAN HELP!
Supports increased efforts by the City of Memphis to engage
minority, woman-owned, and small business enterprises
Provide resources to increase participation by MBEs, WBEs, SBEs.
Advocacy
Connecting business to available resources.
Strengthening MWBE’s through our partner relationships.

8. Identify, facilitate and communicate purchasing and
partnering opportunities with minority businesses.
Grow the pool of minority and women-owned businesses
offering high quality products and services.
Increase community prosperity, purchasing power, and
quality of life.
Identify, Grow and Increase
RESOURCES FOR YOUR BUSINESS

9. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
The MORE you know, the MORE your business can grow.

10. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
The MORE you know, the MORE your business can grow.
Accion
Action Capital
BBA
BOCI
CBU Enactus
Community LIFT
Community Unlimited formally alt.Consulting
Downtown Memphis Commission
EDGE
EMERGE
First Tennessee Bank
Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce
Home-based Business Chamber
INNOVA
OCC
LOCCDC
MAAG
MAMCA
MMBC
Mayor’s Innovation Delivery Team
Memphis Bioworks Foundation
Memphis Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority
Memphis Urban League
Memphis Urban League Young Professionals
MLGW
NAWBO
Pathway Lending
SBA
SCORE
SEEDCO.
SHIELD, Inc.
State of Tennessee Economic and Development
Start Co.
TMSDC
TSBDC
Tennessee BERO
University of Memphis
University of TN Center for Procurement
WBEC South
WIN

11. SAVE THE DATE
APRIL 30, 2015

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Twitter!
How to stay Connected…
www.morememphis.org
CONTACTING MORE
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13. Alandas DobbinsDirector of MORE
Memphis Office of Resources & Enterprise
901-544-1847
www.morememphis.org
The MORE you know, the MORE your business can grow.
Thank you!