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One of the things I love most about Memphis is the spirit of evolution that thrives here. Memphians are masters at creating what is next without ever forgetting where we came from.
We are a city of deep roots and big ideas. A city where music, medicine, logistics, and civil rights have all made global impact. And every day, I get the opportunity to meet with people who prove that we’re still making an impact. Still building, still imagining, still pushing forward.
This week reminded me just how much innovation is happening right here in our own backyard — not from headlines or outside investors, but from people who believe in this city and are putting in the work to move it forward.
I met with the team at Memphis Record Pressing, a homegrown success story that started small and is now pressing vinyl for major artists around the world. I also sat down with the founders of MedHaul, a Memphis-based startup solving real problems by making healthcare transportation more accessible for those who need it most.
These companies may be in different industries, but their impact is the same. They’re creating good jobs. Growing with purpose. Investing in people. And showing what’s possible when you stay rooted in community and open to innovation.
 That’s exactly why our administration is putting real resources behind Memphis entrepreneurs. Last week, we launched Entrepreneurship City — a new initiative to expand funding, technical support, and mentorship for small businesses and high-growth startups. Because when local businesses grow, neighborhoods grow with them. Jobs are created. Wealth stays local. And young people start to see new possibilities in their own communities.
Entrepreneurship isn’t just about business. It’s about building a city where ideas take root, talent rises, and opportunity doesn’t require leaving home. We’re creating an ecosystem where Memphians can grow, scale, and reinvest — shaping the future of Memphis from the ground up.
Memphis Record Pressing: Turning History Into Opportunity
Memphis Record Pressing was born from a simple idea: bring vinyl back and do it right. Brandon Seavers and Mark Yoshida already had years of experience running Audiographic Masterworks, a CD and DVD production company. But when Fat Possum Records asked them to start pressing records, they took a chance on something new, and they bet on Memphis.
 Since 2014, that bet has paid off in a big way. What began as a niche operation has evolved into the largest vinyl pressing plant in North America. They’re pressing records for top-selling artists and global labels, but what I’m most proud of is what they’re doing for our local economy.
They’ve created more than 300 jobs here in the region, and they’re not just filling positions; they’re building a culture that uplifts their employees. A place where people feel seen, supported, and proud of the work they do. When employees are recruiting their own families to apply, you know you’ve built something meaningful.
This is how we make Memphis competitive, not just by chasing growth, but by building workplaces people want to stay in. Memphis Record Pressing is showing the world that you can honor the past, meet the moment, and create a future that works for everybody.
MedHaul: Innovation with Heart
MedHaul started with a personal challenge, but it’s grown into a citywide solution. Erica Plybeah couldn’t find safe, reliable non-emergency transportation for her grandmother’s medical appointments. Like too many families in Memphis, she faced a system that just didn’t work for people with mobility issues, limited income, or inconsistent access.
Instead of accepting that reality, she did what Memphis innovators do: she built something better.
Today, MedHaul is working with hospitals, research institutions, and nonprofits to make sure patients in underserved neighborhoods don’t miss their appointments, don’t fall through the cracks, and don’t have to choose between healthcare and transportation.
I was especially moved by the intentionality behind their work. Erica and Nathalie Occean are not just running a company; they’re filling a gap in our healthcare system with compassion, dignity, and determination. They are creating a Memphis where access isn’t a luxury, it’s a given. And listening to them talk about their future plans, I was inspired. It is safe to say that they aren’t done innovating.
 Their growth is proof that you can build a tech solution that is people-centered. That being mission-driven and scalable aren’t opposites; they’re the future.
Memphis has always been a city of builders, but now more than ever, we’re being called to build the right things in the right way. That means creating jobs with dignity. It means investing in companies that stay and scale. It means turning passions into purpose and purpose into progress.
And most of all, it means believing in each other.
We don’t have to wait for someone else to come fix our problems. We’ve got what we need right here: the people, the creativity, the resilience, and the innovation to move Memphis forward.
Let’s keep building. Together.
Good News!
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Track Our Progress
The linked reports below provide evidence to support our public safety strategy and our work to ensure municipal fiscal responsibility. These dashboard provides a quick overview, with the ability to dive in deeper to neighborhoods and divisions. Both dashboards updates daily.
 SAFER COMMUNITIES: For more info on how to use the safer communities dashboard, go here. Or for the whole dashboard, go here. FINANCE TRACKER: For more info on how to use the finance tracker dashboard, go here. Or for the whole dashboard, go here.
Our Blight Strike Team worked in the following zip codes this week: 38103, 38104, 38105, 38107, 38108, 38118, 38134
In the Know:
New Property Tax Payment Platform Now Live. Starting January 1, 2025, the City of Memphis has transitioned to a new and improved online platform for property tax payments. You can now pay your bill at memphis.paytntaxes.com using a simpler, more user-friendly system. Prefer to pay in person? Visit participating Kroger, CashSaver, Superlo Foods, or Gordin’s Butcher Shoppes with a copy of your bill. (Please note: In-store payments may include additional fees.) Questions? Call (901) 522-1111.
Apply for Memphis Academy of Civic Engagement. The Memphis Academy of Civic Engagement (MACE), is a FREE multi-week course designed to deepen your understanding of local government and empower you to serve your community. MACE helps residents become active participants in shaping Memphis. Applications for the Fall 2025 cohort are now open through August 12. Selected applicants will be notified by August 22. Learn more and apply here.
To report concerns related to property violations, potholes, and trash, click the link here or call 311 to speak to a live agent.
Social and Community Engagement:
Family Fun Fridays. Family Fun Fridays are in full swing! Join us every Friday this summer at a different city park for an evening of free, family-friendly fun. Tonight’s event takes place from 6pm to 9pm at Flowering Peach Park (4565 Flowering Peach Dr.) and features live entertainment, carnival rides, games, a video game board, and free food for the first 500 guests. No registration required—just bring the family and enjoy the fun! See more and share here.
MedHaul Selected for Google’s AI Academy on American Infrastructure. Memphis healthcare tech company, MedHaul, addressing transportation barriers for patients, has been chosen for the Google for Startups AI Academy: American Infrastructure. The four-month program supports startups using AI to improve critical U.S. infrastructure sectors like healthcare, education, and transportation. Through this opportunity, MedHaul will receive equity-free support, mentorship from Google AI experts, and access to cutting-edge tools to enhance its mission of providing inclusive, non-emergency medical transportation. Learn more about MedHaul here.
Olympic-Level Track & Field Returns to Memphis. The 9th Annual Ed Murphey Classic is back July 11-12, bringing elite, Olympic-caliber track and field competition to the University of Memphis and Beale Street. The weekend includes youth events, the popular Beale Street Mile, and the thrilling Beale Street Pole Vault—all capped off by a world-class meet featuring international athletes on Saturday evening. Don’t miss your chance to witness top talent and support local youth in this premier Memphis sporting event. For tickets and youth registration details, see here.
Senior Health Fair. The Senior Health Fair returns to Memphis Public Libraries! This is your chance to connect with dozens of vendors offering a wide range of FREE healthcare resources and screenings just for seniors! Don't miss it Friday, July 18, from 11am to 3pm at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library! See more and share here.
Calling All Vendors: Be Part of Alley Dayz 2025! Alley Dayz returns July 30 with a FREE celebration of music, community, and local creativity in Downtown Memphis. From 5:30pm to 7:30pm on Saffarans Avenue, guests will enjoy live DJ sets, local vendors, food, and tours of new residences at Malone Park Commons. Interested in being a vendor? It’s free to participate! Fill out the form here and showcase your products to the community.
Stay Connected:
We’re making sure growth leads to real change — where it matters most.
Under the new proposed Community Benefit Ordinance, 25% of all city property tax revenue from xAI will go directly to neighborhoods within 5 miles of the site.
That means consistent funding for improved housing, brighter lights, stronger neighborhoods, and safer communities for our youth.
And we’re not waiting to get started once approved:
In the next 14 days, crews will begin blitzing the area — repairing potholes, clearing drains, and tackling blight in 38109.
Because progress should be felt — not just promised.
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