Memphis Fast Forward

Shelby Farms Park Master Plan off to a $20 million start

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:36:22 +0000

Shelby Farms Park has an approved Master Plan — and a $20 million “challenge grant” from the Hyde Family Foundations to jumpstart fundraising for its first phase. The Master Plan is a roadmap for transforming the country’s largest urban park into a top draw for residents, tourists, and relocating businesses that are seeking a high quality of life for their employees.

The Master Plan envisions 12 diverse landscape areas by walkways and bike paths over the park’s 4,500 acres — five times larger than Manhattan’s Central Park. Landscapes will range from lakes to forests to the open “outback”, with an expanded Patriot Lake, playgrounds, and one million new trees. The Hyde Foundation views the park as the cornerstone of an overall “greenprint” to make the city more environmentally progressive, attracting and keeping residents that value such an amenity.

To receive the five-year Hyde grant, the largest local conservation grant every awarded, the convervancy needs to secure $20 million in matching commitments by December 31, 2008. Park and community leaders view this as very achievable, citing a high level of local excitement as well as opportunities for state, federal and national foundation grants that will leverage the Hyde Foundation’s initial investment.

For More Information Contact: Rick Masson (901) 767-7275

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Major economic fair boosts minority business development

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:20:05 +0000

The Mid-South Minority Business Council’s 2008 Economic Development Fair brought together local and national industry, government and community leaders to deliver inspiration, connections, and opportunities to over 5,000 participants. The Fair also resulted in nine new corporations committed to doing business with minority companies and five new inner city national franchises, advancing Fast Forward’s key goal of more minority business success in all industries.

The conference’s featured speakers included University of Memphis basketball coach John Calipari; Beverly Robertson, executive director of the National Civil Rights Museum; Jeremiah Boyle, director of community affairs for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; and George Fraser, author of “Success Runs in Our Race.”

In addition to workshops, seminars and 130 exhibitors, CEOs from nine Memphis-based companies participated in a roundtable discussion on supplier and workplace diversity. The nine companies included AutoZone, FedEx, First Tennessee Bank, International Paper, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, Methodist Healthcare, Pinnacle Airlines, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and ServiceMaster.

For More Information Contact: Luke Yancy (901) 525-6512

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Brewer hits another home-run for local film and music

admin — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:36:14 +0000

Memphis film director Craig Brewer continues raising the profile of today’s local film and music with his new MTV internet television series $5 Ticket — which features midtown’s independent music scene. Brewer’s 2005 feature film Hustle & Flow won an Academy Award for Best Original Song by local group 3 Six Mafia, the first rap song to ever win an Academy Award, which then went on to win a Grammy.

Conceived, written and directed by Brewer, $5 Cover is a series of internet television “webisodes” — each highlighting Memphis music venues and the musicians who play them. The production — to premiere on the internet in late 2008 or early 2009 — will showcase the talents of the all-Memphis crew and all-Memphis cast and musicians.

The project continues Brewer’s love affair with all genres of Memphis music — from highlighting a local cellist in his first feature film, The Poor & The Hungry, to using local talent to score his post-Hustle feature, Black Snake Moan.

$5 Cover is hiring numerous local production trainees made available to them through the Memphis & Shelby County Film Training Program, funded by City/County Government. The program is coordinated by The Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission. The production will receive up to 50% refunds of the trainees’ wages from this program in exchange for on-the-job training of residents of Memphis or Shelby County. Click here to read more about this program.

For More Information Contact: Linn Sitler (901) 527-8300

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MCS starts school year with focus on safety and security

admin — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:36:08 +0000

School safety and security is a top priority as MCS starts the school year, with a new security chief, metal detectors in all middle and high schools, more police officers and monitors walking the halls, high-tech ID badges to keep track of students, and school staff trained in violence prevention and early intervention.

About 500 metal detectors are being used for screenings in middle and high schools throughout MCS. New high-tech student ID badge help administrators ensure students are where they are supposed to be.

Seventy-seven police officers are walking the halls, with plans for 29 more by December. The 12 schools where most serious incidents occur are staffed with experienced, specialized officers that have received at least 480 hours of training. These schools also have more hall monitors.

This past summer, hundreds of teachers learned prevention and intervention strategies to increase school safety. Gang prevention and intervention training is planned for all administrators. Finallly, MCS is also conducting a study to find out where more security is needed as the foundation of a comprehensive school safety and security plan.

For More Information Contact: Kriner Cash (901) 416-5300

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Memphis Zoo captures first place

admin — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:35:58 +0000

Memphis has garnered a “rave review” from travel enthusiasts around the world, further boosting its position as a major tourist destination. Seasoned travelers on leading travel website TripAdvisor named the Memphis Zoo number one in the country, giving the zoo a 90% overall satisfaction score and ranking it higher than famous zoos in San Diego and St. Louis.

TripAdvisor officials noted that people “just raved” about the Memphis Zoo. The Zoo has steadily been working towards its goal of world-class status over the past 20 years. Zoo officials say that this recent accolade confirms that they are on the right path, reinforcing the Zoo as one of the city’s top tourist attractions.

For More Information Contact: Chuck Brady (901) 276-9453

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Is it Good for the Children?

admin — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 02:35:47 +0000

The Shelby County Office of Early Childhood and Youth has launched Ask First: Is it Good for the Children?, a campaign to make children and youth a top priority in Shelby County. This initiative promotes government and business policies that support children, and also sets the stage to engage parents more actively in their children’s education, a key Memphis Fast Forward strategy for improving student achievement in Shelby County.

The Shelby County-funded “social marketing” campaign asks citizens and organizations to consistently ask whether decisions are “good for the children.” This includes public policy and funding, but also the everyday decisions parents, businesses and churches make about how they might support children and youth.

Modeled after similar campaigns in Kansas City and Orlando, the awareness campaign is designed to help change culture throughout Shelby County. The campaign will be promoted through advertising, outreach and business partnerships, including a tool kit that lists free ways people can put children first.

One way is for parents and caregivers to support their children’s schooling. Research shows that parental engagement in their child’s education has a big positive impact on academic achievement. This campaign will help build awareness for how parents can help their children succeed in school.

For More Information Contact: Julie Coffey (901) 526-1822

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Violent crime down 8.08% in Shelby County

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:53:58 +0000

In the first half of 2008, violent crime in Shelby County was down 8.08% and property crime 3.31% compared to the same time period in 2006, the year before Operation Safe Community was launched. While recently released FBI rankings for 2007 put Memphis at number two in the country for violent crime, our continuing downward trend bodes well for 2008.

For More Information Contact: Linda Miller (901) 527-2600

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World-class riverfront moves a step closer

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:52:32 +0000

The Riverfront Development Corporation recently broke ground on Beale Street Landing - a project to bring visitors to the river’s edge and add riverfront amenities for residents and tourists. Beale Street Landing is the RDC’s first large-scale development project and a cornerstone of the Memphis Riverfront Master Plan’s vision to “reunite the City with the river.”

The $29 million project, expected to open in fall 2010, will provide better access to the river and a range of riverfront recreation activities including daily boat excursions and cruise tours.

A world-class riverfront is important in helping Memphis become a “place of choice” for coveted knowledge workers and their families. Scheduled for completion in 2010, Beale Street Landing plays a key role in achieving this goal.

For More Information Contact: Benny Lendermon (901) 312-9190

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Local musicians learn secrets to success with “Backstage Pass”

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:50:53 +0000

The new Memphis Music Resource Center recently launched a program to provide the local music community with rare access to renowned industry experts. The first “Backstage Pass” event featured a conversation with legendary producer Terry Manning and drew more than 100 attendees.

Held at Ardent Studios, the conversation with Manning lasted two and a half hours with topics ranging from the very technical, such as the best microphone for a female singer, to insider stories about Memphis music history.

Backstage Pass is one of many resources the new Memphis Music Resource Center will offer to help artists and industry professionals grow their businesses. Since opening in early June, the Center has enrolled more than 380 members, exceeding its 2008 goal of 200 members in its first month of business.

For More Information Contact: Dean Deyo (901) 527-1029

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Chamber business expansion team hits another home run

admin — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:50:44 +0000

The Memphis Regional Chamber recently delivered a big win when Medtronic’s Memphis-based spinal surgery unit opened 180,000 sq. ft. of new office space. The company plans to add 600 jobs, with average salaries of $76,000, in the orthopaedics sector, a major industry target of Memphis Fast Forward.

The recent Medtronics project is exactly the kind of business expansion the Chamber is focused on generating — one that delivers high paying jobs in a Memphis Fast Forward target industry, offers great career opportunities for residents and attracts top talent in the community.

The Chamber’s team has worked with Medtronics for over three years securing tax breaks and other economic development incentives. It has also helped Medtronics navigate government requirements for permitting and building.

For More Information Contact: Mark Herbison (901) 543-3500

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