Corrected: Building Together: City of Memphis Weekly Newsletter

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Thank you, Jana Swearengen-Washington for getting the crowd hyped for our shared State of the City address. Watch our recap video here. 

Last night we gathered at the beautiful Temple of Deliverance Church to share our State of the City address. Together with City Council Chair Ford Canale and Vice Chair Jana Swearengen-Washington, we announced a united vision for a stronger, safer, more forward-focused Memphis. 

We announced that we are embarking on what I am calling Our Era of Yes!

We looked at some of our performance stats from 2024 and talked about our challenges head-on. We also shared some of the strategies we are using to mitigate our current challenges - including smart-city solutions that use tech to better enable our city's progress.

I spoke about innovation and the power of small businesses in our community. And I shared some of the work we are engaging in to reduce the red tape and bureaucracy that prevents development from happening. 

Our ultimate goal is to be the easiest city in the country to do business with.

By the end of this year, we want to streamline our processes so that any major investment that is in line with our plan and our code will have a building permit within 30 days.

And it isn’t a pipe dream - we are working on the adjustments and efficiencies needed to make this happen, so that we can send a clear signal to the rest of the world - Memphis is open for business. 

I shared that all of our work is guided by our community's needs. YOU are the reason our city is on the rise. Your voices, your ideas, and your passions direct our forward movement. Our team is all in on doing everything we can to make Memphis’ value rise in a way that makes our entire community the beneficiary. 

I shared, once again, that our crime numbers are down, but that isn't enough for me. I want to see a year where we aren’t talking about crime rates. I want to experience a decade where our most pressing issues are how to build fast enough to keep up with the population growth. 

And I believe that era starts now, as we continue with our strategy to stabilize, invest, and invite. I believe Memphis is poised for a breakthrough. I believe Memphis is on the rise. 

We say yes to more jobs, Yes to more regional economic development, and Yes to more industry growth; Yes to every small business owner and small business that opens on Jackson, Park, or McLemore. And also Yes to AAON; Yes to the St Jude expansion; Yes to 100 N Main and Sterick Building revitalization; And Yes to xAI And Amplify; Yes to Reconnext; Yes to Buckman; Yes to Blue Oval City. 

We committed to saying yes to fostering small business growth in more ways - this year, we are partnering with the team at the Olivet Worship Center to support a city-wide extension of their BAMM Program, we'll share more about this program in the weeks to come. 

Last night, on behalf of YOUR CITY, I said YES to more hard work. Yes to changing the way we do business - and attract business into our city. Yes to inviting more people, more vibrancy, and more revenue to build a future Memphis that benefits all of us who say YES to our city every day. 

I am honored to be your mayor and I am committed to fostering an Era of Yes for all of us!

We started last night by sharing one of our biggest success stories from 2024 - our faith-based Own Your Block city-wide clean-up initiative. Get inspired and join us as we all say YES to a more beautiful Memphis! Watch here.

You can flip through the presentation slides from my speech here. 

You can scroll through more of our 2024 data presentation here. 

We say YES to growth. YES to innovation. YES to more people. YES to more development. And YES to a stronger, safer, more vibrant and welcoming Memphis. Watch the entire State of the City address here. 

Good News!

Do you have good news to share? We would love to share it! Send us a note at goodnews@memphistn.gov

Weekly Crime Trend

The report below provides our weekly update on Part 1 Crimes. It updates daily and shows a continuous rolling 7-day total compared to the prior 7-day total. The charts on the right show the calendar week trend, comparing 2023 to 2024.

(We maintain two crime dashboards, the Weekly Crime Trend report can be found here, and the Crime Analytics dashboard can be accessed here.)

Our Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38106, 38107, 38109, 38111, 38112, 38114, 38116, 38126, 38128

Community Announcement

Attention vehicle owners: Personal vehicle registration rates change in February 2025. As an example: Class C passenger motor vehicles rates go from $30 to $60 annually. For more information call the Shelby County Clerk's Motor Vehicle Division at 901-222-3000.

Community Engagement

DMC Event Grant Activation. Got a big idea for an event in Downtown Memphis? Applications for Activation & Event Grants are OPEN! The DMC’s Engage Downtown Grant offers funding for events/activations that recruit people into Downtown; utilize public, outdoor, or highly visible space; and provide unique or uniquely joyful experiences in Downtown Memphis. See more and apply here. 

Blight Zero: Project Clean City Grant Program. If you are a small business or non-profit organization specializing in landscaping, hauling, or other general contracting services addressing blight, consider applying for the Blight Zero: Project Clean City Grant Program. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO APPLY. See more and apply here. 

Social and Community Shout-outs

This is Memphis Party. Hundreds of leaders and visionaries will gather this Saturday, February 1, 2025 to celebrate everything that makes our city and riverfront extraordinary at the second annual “This Is Memphis” presented by TVA. It's not just an event – it's a true Memphis experience. Grab tickets today to be part of this unforgettable night. See more and grab tickets here. 

HCD Housing Summit. Join Memphis Housing & Community Development transformative two-day event focused on shaping the future of housing through preservation, development, and equity on February 20-21. This summit brings together national experts, advocates, and local leaders to tackle the most pressing issues in housing today, from fair financing to policy advocacy. See full details and sign up here. 

Literacy Mid-South English Lessons. Literacy Mid-South offers free, small-group English classes for adults grouped by goals, availability, and skill level. Don’t miss out on the upcoming information session this Saturday, February 1 at 10am at the Bert Ferguson Community Center located at 8505 Trinity Road in Cordova. See more and share here. 

Memphis Public Libraries. Get ready for springtime! Memphis Public Libraries is hosting their third annual Seed Swap, this Sunday. Organizations, experts, hobbyists, and more will share their seeds and knowledge at this start-of-the-season event from 2pm to 4pm! The Seed Library will be fully stocked and ready for all your spring garden needs. See more and share here.

Stay Connected:

in partnership and progress,

Paul A. Young