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I've always believed that every great city needs a thriving downtown. Before becoming mayor, I served as president of the Downtown Memphis Commission. I know the challenges, the opportunities, and the people who have spent years believing in Downtown's future. That's why our Memphis Rising strategy begins here.
But we're not simply building a better Downtown. We're building a Memphis that works for everyone, in every neighborhood - and a stronger Downtown is key.
Downtown is our shared living room, where we celebrate, remember, and experience the culture that makes Memphis special. It's also our billboard to the world, often the first impression visitors have of our city.
And it belongs to all of us, whether you live in Whitehaven, Orange Mound, Raleigh, Frayser, East Memphis or anywhere in between.
This week, the Downtown Memphis Commission released its 2026 State of Downtown report, alongside new research from the International Downtown Association.
The numbers tell an encouraging story:
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68,400 jobs, representing 18% of Memphis' employment on just 2% of our land area.
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28.4% less crime Downtown in 2025 compared with 2024.
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$6.4 billion in the development pipeline.
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$153 million in 2025 investment supported by $4.2 million in DMC incentives.
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22 million Downtown visits in 2025.
The International Downtown Association classified Memphis as an emerging downtown, recognizing our potential for continued growth. And that growth is taking shape all around us. The new Memphis Art Museum, which will be free for Shelby County residents. The National Civil Rights Museum's expansion, Tom Lee Park and the Memphis Flyway, the Baron Von Opperbean experience on Mud Island, Grind City Amphitheater, our upcoming projects like the arena district improvements.
These investments build on extraordinary anchors like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, FedExForum, the Orpheum, the Peabody, Beale Street, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, and the Renasant Convention Center.
 But we also recognize that we still have unfinished business. We need to bring iconic buildings like 100 N Main and the Sterick back to life, advance projects like the Riverline Hotel, fill vacant storefronts, and continue making Downtown cleaner, safer, and easier to navigate.
One thing I learned from my time at the DMC is that we have to connect the dots. And as mayor, I see those connections extending across our entire city.
Because the measure of our success isn't how much we build. It's how many people benefit from what we build. And that means we have to connect each successful project to the next person, the next neighborhood, and the next opportunity.
I think about how that plays out for the young person seeking a good-paying job, the entrepreneur trying to grow a business, and the family that wants safe streets and a better future. A thriving Downtown generates jobs, investment, and tax revenue that can help strengthen neighborhoods throughout Memphis. That's the strategy. And it's why we must keep pushing forward while making sure more Memphians share in that progress.
And we can't forget that we also have to be willing to tell our own story. Celebrate what's working. Support local businesses. Invite people Downtown. And then do it again. And again.
We cannot expect the world to believe in Memphis if we aren't willing to tell the world why we believe in it ourselves.
I've believed in Downtown Memphis for years. Today, as mayor, my responsibility is to make sure that belief translates into opportunity across our city.
When Downtown wins, Memphis should win. Every neighborhood. Every family. Every Memphian.
Read the full reports at DowntownMemphis.com.
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