Weekly Update

Friends,

Since coming to the mayor’s office in 2016, working to increase spending with minority and women-owned businesses has been one of our top priorities. To make sure that happened, we created the Office of Business Diversity and Compliance headed up by Joann Massey with the goal to not only grow city spending in that area but to also help grow the bench of available vendors.

Below are the numbers for the last two fiscal years.

	FY19	FY20
Total MWBE Spend	$73,361,138.79	$103,494,784.48
City-wide MWBE Percent Spend	21.87%	22.93%

This year’s number of 22.93 percent is an all-time high record for city government. In fact, each year in office we’ve set a record. Prior to our administration, the high was only 12 percent.

Fiscal Year 2020 Ethnicity Spending Breakdown

While we still have work to do in this area, we are making progress with plans to do even more. If you’re a business owner and would like to get certified to do business with city government, please go here.

COVID-19 Resources: As I’ve said before, this pandemic has been brutal for our small businesses and our entertainment and hospitality industries. I want to remind everyone today that if you or someone you know needs help, there are available resources for you.

For our business owners, our Office of Business Diversity and Compliance has compiled a list of emergency financial assistance programs throughout Shelby County. To view that list, please go here.

To our community members, please help keep our great local restaurants going. Even though some of their capacity restrictions have been relaxed, they still need our help. Also, keep ordering take-out or delivery. For a listing of available restaurant options, go here.

This year has been difficult for us all, but together we will get through it and be stronger from it.

Job Opportunities: Next Wednesday in partnership with Hyosung HICO, we will be hosting a virtual jobs fair from 11 a.m.—noon. There are positions available for manufacturing technicians, engineers, quality and test lab inspectors just to name a few. For more information about the company and how to participate, click here.

If someone does not have access to a computer, you can visit the Benjamin Hooks Library on October 7th at 11 a.m., and we will help you access the job fair.

In addition to our jobs fair, FedEx is looking to hire thousands for the holiday season. For more information on available positions, pay and benefits, visit fedexishiring.com.

Lastly, we’re always looking for talented, quality employees to come work for us at the City of Memphis. If you or someone you know, wants the opportunity to try a career in public service, you can go here to view all our available listings.

MPD Awards Ceremony: Yesterday afternoon, MPD held its annual awards ceremony honoring the Best in Blue. The men and women of your Memphis Police Department are truly some of the best in the country.

Yesterday’s ceremony honored the tireless work our officers have done over the last year and especially for their service during the pandemic. They proudly put on their uniforms to protect and serve us each day, and we cannot thank them enough for it.

To view the officers and awards they received, go here.

Memphis Adventures: I know the last several months have been stressful, frustrating, and for many of us, filled with uncertainty.

There is another side to that coin, however.

If you look at it from another angle, we’ve been able to spend more time with immediate family and people in our households. Since many people are working from home, the hustle and bustle of getting ready and heading out the door each day has been removed from your mornings. And, since many of us are not traveling, the opportunity for a “staycation” to get to know some things about our city that maybe you weren’t aware of is ripe for the taking.

To help give you some ideas, Memphis Tourism just recently launched Memphis Adventures. The new site has listings for biking, paddling, climbing, and just about every other local outdoor activity you can think of.

As we move into the fall season and the weather is little more forgiving to be outside, this new site provides a list of fun activities and opportunities to see our community in ways you haven’t done before.

Yours,