. Greetings, As we inch closer to the holiday season its important to remember to MASK UP MEMPHIS and be ready for the next wave. The Greater Memphis area has several COVID-19 testing sites. Please check to see which site is closest to you here. Remember to CALL ahead and make an appointment.  Our Small Business Stabilization Grant has provided $824,633 in relief to over 72 businesses. Please know that we are working hard to provide support to small businesses in need. My staff is available and ready to assist you. We will continue to offer this initiative until all funds are exhausted. Please carefully review the website to see if you qualify!  Click here for more information as well as a link to apply! On November 20th the OBDC will be celebrating our entrepreneurs through a virtual client recognition day. Be sure to read this month's newsletter for more details on how to be a part of the celebration. Please contact us at 901-636-9300 or bdcinfo@memphistn.gov for assistance today. #WeMeanBusiness #ReadyBusiness Sincerely, Director Joann Massey

Memphis COVID-19 Updates Stay up to date with Memphis COVID-19 updates and current CDC recommendations here Keep up with Mayor Strickland's daily COVID-19 updates here

Save the date!! The OBDC wants to say thank you! On Friday, November 20th we will have a candid conversation with some very successful entrepreneurs that you don't want to miss. Follow us on Facebook for more information about this exciting event.

The coronavirus pandemic has adversely affected small businesses everywhere and especially in our most vulnerable neighborhoods. The EDGE Neighborhood Emergency Economic Development (NEED) Grant was created to provide relief to neighborhood-serving businesses in our city's most distressed areas. Grants of up to $10,000 will be made to businesses located in New Markets Tax Credit Eligible Census Tracks throughout the City of Memphis that have experienced at least a 25% loss in revenue as a result of COVID-19.  Download the application here and email completed form to NEED@growth-engine.org to initiate the process.

Greater Memphis Business Resource Center The Greater Memphis Chamber is committed to providing Business Guidance on COVID-19 for our business community.  Stay in the know with up-to-date information, tools and resources to help minimize the impact of COVID-19-related disruption Click here for more information

Open Request For Proposals (RFQ) with the Downtown Memphis Commission Downtown Memphis Mobility Center The Downtown Memphis Commission (DMC) is soliciting proposals for qualified companies to provide Construction Manager-at-Risk (CMAR) services in connection with the design and construction of the Downtown Memphis Mobility Center at 60 Beale St. Review Full Mobility Center RFQ here. Shopper’s Garage Improvement Project The Downtown Memphis Commission (DMC) is soliciting proposals for qualified companies to provide Construction Manager-at-Risk (CMAR) services in connection with the design and renovation of the Shopper’s Garage at 85 N. Front St. Review Full Shoppers Garage RFQ here.

Love Memphis-Buy Memphis Buy 901 is a FREE directory of MWSBE businesses that posses a variety of skills and trades. It's easy to use, and searchable by business name, skill/trade, and ownership! Visit Buy901.net to support local businesses!

For our MWSBE Spotlight this month we want to recognize Colby Midgett, owner of Premier Flowers. Premier Flowers, located in downtown Memphis at 10 N. Second Street #105 is a boutique flower shop situated across from Court Square. They handle everything from personal and special occasions to large events, weddings, funerals, and beyond! Since opening Premier Flowers in 2015 Ms. Midgett has been mentioned in a host of floral and wedding design magazines. She is an ambassador of Dress for Success Memphis as well as a volunteer with numerous local charities. In addition to being voted Top 10 To Watch by the Greater Memphis Chamber, she was featured in Memphis Magazine FACES in 2019 and 2020 and Style Blue Print's FACES in 2020.

To learn more about Premier Flowers check out their Facebook page here!

Thank you Colby and Premier Flowers for continuing your entrepreneurial efforts in the City of Memphis!!

#WEMEANBUSINESS

How to Successfully Deal with Entrepreneurial Burnout Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2020 Time: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Location: Online Webinar  About this Event "How to Successfully Deal with Entrepreneurial Burnout" is a City of Memphis Office of Business Diversity and Compliance webinar designed to help entrepreneurs increase business effectiveness in key areas. Description: Getting back to business has been a challenge and to put it mildly a high stress creator in the midst of COVID-19 for business owners. How do you deal with stress and business survival that seems to be unrelenting? This webinar will address solutions that you can use to combat chronic stress and learn how to give yourself a much needed break. You deserve one! Join OBDC and Wellness Expert Mia Earl for an anxiety-free hour as she instructs you how to relieve stressful situations and how to deal with the effects of entrepreneurial burnout. This webinar is a great tool to combat the stresses of the Holiday Season and will make you feel more relaxed and confident heading into 2021. What we will cover in this webinar: 1. Highly proven techniques to relieve burnout 2. Relaxation methods that work anytime 3. Simple techniques that you can put to use during the webinar 4. Helpful Q&A Bio: Mia D. Earl, PhD., MPH, CHES is the owner of Abundant Life Wellness Solutions. She is a Certified Health Educator and Registered Certified Reflexologist. Mia specializes in preventative health, including stress reduction and reflexology. NOTE: This online workshop is a support service for small business owners of the Office of Business Diversity and Compliance and the Entrepreneurs Network Center. Register Here

CARES Act Relief Funds Update Date: Thursday, November 12, 2020 Time: 9:00 am to 10:30 pm Location: Online Webinar This webinar will discuss any updates concerning the PPP Loan Forgiveness application process. We will also discuss the EIDL application requirements and the permitted use of funds. Register Here

Getting Ready to Go to the Bank Date: Thursday, November 15, 2020 Time: 9:00 am to 11:00 am Location: Online Webinar About this Event This will be a two-part workshop. In the first hour, we will discuss how businesses can properly prepare themselves to go to a lender. We will cover the financials needed and loan disqualifiers. In the second hour, we will discuss how to be credit ready when approaching a lender. Register Here

Develop 901: Online Permitting Portal Date: Monday, November 16, 2020 Time: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm Location: Online Webinar  About this Event "Develop 901: Online Permitting Portal" is a City of Memphis Office of Business Diversity and Compliance webinar designed to help entrepreneurs increase business effectiveness in key areas. Description: The Division of Planning & Development has launched an online portal for digital permitting and plan submission. This webinar will help you learn more about how to use Develop 901 and how it can assist your business needs. Please join this event hosted by the Office of Business Diversity & Compliance. NOTE: This online workshop is a support service for small business owners of the Office of Business Diversity and Compliance and the Entrepreneurs Network Center. Register Here

Learn how to use Canva for your business (Taller en Espanol) Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2020 Time: 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Location: Online Webinar Formas de crear diseños simples con confianza. Ways to create simple designs with confidence.   About this Event ¿Tiene problemas para armar carteles, folletos, publicaciones en redes sociales y otro material de aspecto profesional? Aprenda a utilizar uno de los muchos programas en línea gratuitos para diseñar todo lo que necesita para comercializar su negocio. Lo que vas a aprender: Que es Canva y para que sirve Como abrir una cuenta con canva Como disenar un post para las redes sociales en canva Como subir tus propias fotografias e imagenes a canvas Guarda tu disenos y llevalos a las redes sociales Do you have trouble putting together professional-looking posters, flyers, social media posts, and other materials? Learn how to use one of many free online programs to design everything you need to market your business. What you will learn: What is Canva and what is it for? How to open an account with Canva How to design a post for social media in Canva How to upload your own photos and images to canvas Save your designs and take them to social media Register Here

Interested in getting certified with the City of Memphis? Contact our office at (901) 636-6210 to meet with one of our Certification Analysts.

Title VI Updates

The Office of Business Diversity & Compliance Director Joann Massey is also designated as the Title VI Coordinator for the City of Memphis. In this role, the Title VI Coordinator has the responsibility for collecting data surveys, evaluations, and other pertinent documentation in accordance with Title VI regulations. Additionally, the Title VI Coordinator represents the City of Memphis during on-site reviews by the respective entities and officers. Information flows from the Title VI Coordinator to the respective entities and officers to ensure accuracy and compliance with program requirements. It is also the responsibility of the Title VI Coordinator to verify and implement the City of Memphis’ Title VI Compliance and Implementation Plan.

What is Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act?

“No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under a program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

 Click to continue reading.

Office of Business Diversity & Compliance City of Memphis – City Hall (Main Office) 125 North Main, Room 546 Memphis, TN 38103 Office: (901) 636-6210 Fax: (901) 636-6560 or City of Memphis – Entrepreneurs Network Center 480 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Ave Memphis, TN 38126 Office: (901) 636-9300 Website: Click Here “We Mean Business”

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”-Aristotle Joann Massey, Director Lutricia Davis, Executive Assistant (City Hall) Timothy Houston, Administrative Assistant (ENC) Carol Kelley, Administrative Assistant (City Hall) Compliance Andrew DeShazo, Esq., Compliance Manager Marcina Egedebge, Contract Compliance Analyst Valesia Johnson, Intern   Certification Standley Brady, Esq., Certification Manager Tabitha Veazey, Certification Analyst Business Services Ashley Robinson, Operations Mrg. & Outreach & Engagement  Taylor Tagg, Business Services Coordinator Sr. Guadalupe Reyes, Business Services Coordinator Dante Robichaux, Creative Strategist