Greater Memphis Chamber award signals new era for city

When the Greater Memphis Chamber was named 2025 Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) last month, it marked more than just an organizational achievement. It signaled a fundamental shift in Memphis’ trajectory and validated what many of us have known for years: Memphis is creating a culture of winning.

This prestigious recognition — the first in our Chamber’s 187-year history — didn’t happen by accident. It resulted from years of strategic planning, bold vision and relentless execution. The Chamber underwent a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process, competing against more than 1,700 chambers nationwide and emerged victorious in the Regional Chamber category.

But this award isn’t just about the Chamber. It’s about Memphis.

For too long, our city has been defined by others through outdated narratives and statistics that fail to capture the innovation, determination and transformation happening here. This national recognition tells a different story — one of a city that’s leveraging its unique assets to compete on the global stage.

Prosper Memphis 2030: A blueprint for success

At the heart of our transformation is the Prosper Memphis 2030 Strategic Plan — a comprehensive roadmap guiding our economic development efforts. This ambitious plan isn’t just about attracting businesses; it’s about creating sustainable prosperity for all Memphians.

Through Prosper Memphis 2030, we’ve set bold targets: Adding 700 advanced industry companies, creating 50,000 high-quality jobs and awarding 20,000 STEM degrees and credentials annually. We’re already seeing impressive progress, with 19,600 jobs added to our MSA and 9,735 science, technology, engineering, arts and math graduates annually. These aren’t just numbers — they represent real opportunities for Memphians in every neighborhood.

The Chamber’s award-winning application highlighted several achievements that demonstrate Memphis’ momentum. Our “Digital Delta” initiative has positioned Memphis as a technology leader, capitalizing on our No. 1 ranking in Black tech talent concentration among large U.S. metros.

This strategic focus helped secure xAI’s $12 billion investment here — Tennessee’s largest-ever economic development project and winner of Business Facilities’ Deal of the Year.

Our advocacy efforts secured nearly $400 million in grant funding of the $1 billion investment for the new I-55 Bridge, aptly named “America’s River Crossing.” And our workforce development programs are creating pathways to high-quality jobs through partnerships with local universities and community colleges.

An award for every neighborhood

This recognition belongs to every corner of Memphis. From Whitehaven to Westwood, from Orange Mound to Chickasaw Gardens, from Midtown to Downtown — this award celebrates the collective spirit of our diverse communities. Each neighborhood contributes uniquely to the tapestry that makes Memphis special and each stands to benefit from the economic momentum we’re building.

In Whitehaven, we see the strength of our tourism industry anchored by Graceland and the potential for new development. In Orange Mound, we honor one of the nation’s first African-American-built neighborhoods while supporting its revitalization. In Midtown, we celebrate the creative economy that fuels our cultural identity. And in Downtown, we witness the physical transformation of our urban core, attracting new residents and businesses.

The Chamber’s work touches every ZIP code in our city. When we advocate for infrastructure improvements, we’re fighting for better connectivity between Frayser and Cordova. When we attract new employers, we’re creating job opportunities for residents of Binghampton and Hickory Hill. When we support small business growth, we’re nurturing entrepreneurs in South Memphis and Raleigh.

Building on our strengths

These aren’t isolated successes. They represent a coordinated strategy focused on people, place and prosperity. They demonstrate our ability to take on new challenges, persevere and adapt to change. Most importantly, they reflect the deep desire within our community to build a more vibrant, inclusive future.

Memphis stands in a rare and distinguished position as home to two Carnegie R1 research institutions — a distinction shared by few metropolitan areas in the nation. The University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center represent the pinnacle of academic research and innovation, driving our region’s knowledge economy and talent pipeline.

This academic powerhouse fuels our workforce development initiatives and positions Memphis as a leader in cutting-edge research, with our city ranking among the top two regions for female scientific research and development talent among metros with populations over 1 million.

Our academic institutions aren’t just producing graduates — they’re cultivating the diverse talent that gives Memphis its competitive edge.

Beyond our academic strengths, Memphis continues to shine in national rankings that highlight our diverse advantages. We remain the busiest cargo airport in the United States, according to the Airports Council International. We’re the third most affordable city in the country, according to SmartAsset, and Forbes ranked Memphis #4 in its “10 Most Affordable Cities to Buy a Home” in 2023. For families, we’re the second-most affordable city to raise a child in America.

Our housing market was among the top 10 in the U.S. for first-time homebuyers in a 2024 study, making Memphis an attractive destination for young professionals. And with a record 11 million visitors to the Memphis metro area in 2023, our tourism industry continues to thrive, with Southern Living magazine naming Memphis one of “The South’s Best Cities,” also in 2024.

A model for excellence

As vice chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, I’ve had a front-row seat to this transformation. I’ve witnessed the dedication of President and CEO Ted Townsend and his team, who refused to accept the status quo and instead pursued excellence in every aspect of the Chamber’s operations.

Twenty years ago, the Chamber applied for this same award and didn’t make it past the first round. This time, we didn’t just qualify — we won! That’s the story of Memphis today: a city that learns from its past, builds on its strengths and refuses to be defined by its challenges.

This award serves as a beacon to businesses, investors and talent outside our region. It signals that Memphis has something special happening — something worth being part of. If you’re not here, you’re missing out on one of America’s most dynamic economic transformations.

The path forward

The Chamber of the Year award isn’t the culmination of our journey; it’s a milestone along the way. The real work continues as we implement our strategic plan, attract new investments, develop our workforce and advocate for policies that support economic growth.

As we continue to build the Digital Delta, we’re not just focusing on technology companies. We’re strengthening our traditional industries such as manufacturing, logistics and health care while embracing innovation that will define our future economy. The Chamber’s initiatives, from ChamberCare health centers to workforce development programs, are designed to support this holistic vision of prosperity.

As Memphis continues to rise, I invite every business, organization and individual to join this momentum. Together, we’re not just changing perceptions about Memphis — we’re changing the reality. We’re creating a culture of winning that extends beyond the Chamber to every corner of our community.

This is Memphis’ moment. Let’s seize it.

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