By some estimates, America’s railroad companies are in the midst of the largest investment boom since the Gilded Age – when America’s railroad track mileage tripled between 1860 and 1880.

This year, North American’s freight railroads plan to invest $24.5 billion in intermodal terminals, new track, bridges and tunnels, safety equipment and rail cars, according to the Association of American Railroads.

2. Absolutely, Positively Memphis - Wednesday, April 10, 2013

It’s certainly old news to say that the Internet is changing the way we do business today. And most assuredly, we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. It’s not so farfetched to imagine a world where virtually everything is delivered, well, virtually. Maybe in the 2060s, the decade in which the futuristic Jetsons cartoon was set. Until then, while eCommerce is having a growing impact on where and how people shop, the fact of the matter is that goods still have to get to the consumer.

3. Hagerty Outlines Changes Made in Past Two Years - Saturday, February 16, 2013

Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty says 2013 will see the administration of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam advance basic changes the administration made in the previous two years.

4. Trucking Braces for Hours of Service Changes - Friday, February 08, 2013

New changes to the hours of service (HOS) rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation will impact truckers and trucking companies beginning July 1 unless a pending lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia blocks the new rules before then.

5. Signs of the Times - Friday, January 18, 2013

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. called the Electrolux Memphis manufacturing plant a “monster plant” this week after a tour of the $266 million manufacturing center in Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park.

6. Norfolk Southern Increases Activity - Friday, January 04, 2013

Norfolk, Va.-based Norfolk Southern Corp. expects to continue increasing operations this year at its new Memphis Regional Intermodal Terminal in Rossville, just east of Collierville.

7. Urban Land Institute: Memphis Recovering Slowly, Behind Nashville - Thursday, December 06, 2012

Memphis’ economy and commercial real estate industry is recovering, but not as fast as other places – like Nashville.

That was the message local professionals heard Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the Urban Land Institute Memphis’ 2013 Real Estate Outlook for the Mid-South.

8. Haynes Joins Table Group as Principal Consultant - Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Brad Haynes has joined The Table Group Inc. as principal consultant. Haynes will provide executive teams with customized consulting and training sessions built around teamwork, leadership and overall organizational health.

9. Hurricane Scramble - Wednesday, October 31, 2012

It’s been called Frankenstorm, and from an economic standpoint it’s a perfect fit. Because by the time it’s all said and done, Hurricane Sandy likely will have taken a monster-sized bite out of the U.S. economy.

10. Art City - Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Artists Colleen Couch-Smith and Kelly Lindsey of Memphis are the creative minds behind Rock Paper Scissors (indielamps.com), offering lamps distinctive enough to double as illuminated art.

11. Nashville Company Buys Wolf River Medical Building for $11 Million - Tuesday, October 16, 2012

8040 Wolf River Blvd.
Germantown, TN 38138
Sale Amount: $11 million

Sale Date: Oct. 9, 2012
Buyer: HRT of Tennessee Inc.
Seller: Bayrock Investment Co. LLC
Details: HRT of Tennessee Inc., an affiliate of Nashville-based Healthcare Realty Trust Inc., has paid slightly less than $11 million for the medical office building at 8040 Wolf River Blvd. in Germantown.

12. FedEx Maps Out Changes for Express - Thursday, October 11, 2012

FedEx Corp. executives detailing the terms of the company’s goal of a $1.7 billion improvement in annual profitability over the next three-and-a-half years Wednesday, Oct. 10, put much of the emphasis on how FedEx is changing the way it does business.

13. Kansas City Company Buys Bartlett Warehouse - Wednesday, October 10, 2012

A Kansas City, Mo.-based company has bought the 51,040-square-foot warehouse at 3150 New Brunswick Road in Bartlett for $3.2 million.

14. Congestion Woes - Friday, August 03, 2012

Tennessee Transportation Commissioner John Schroer told the Regional Logistics Council Thursday, Aug. 2, that his office has the “right priority list” of road projects for the Memphis area.

15. Region Should Benefit From GreenTech Opening - Friday, July 13, 2012

When a group of American investors bought a Chinese auto company making electric vehicles and decided to move the plant to the U.S., the competition was intense for the location.

Haley Barbour, who was governor of Mississippi at the time, points out it was not as intense as the competition for the Toyota plant that the state had previously won.

16. Tax Factor - Monday, June 11, 2012

A few months ago, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. was recounting to an audience of businessmen a recent breakfast he’d had with a site location agent.

That agent had a client out of California looking at sites in the Memphis area for a project. The location agent had drawn up what the financials for the project might look like – and it included $25,000 in attorney’s fees.

17. Global Connections - Monday, May 07, 2012

Although the Memphis in May International Festival is widely known for its Beale Street Music Festival and World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, the festival’s focus on developing international economic trade and fostering Memphis companies’ global business relationships remains central to its mission.

18. Aerotropolis Brand Slow To Catch On - Monday, April 30, 2012

The president of the company that helped give Alliance, Texas, the country’s first 100 percent cargo airport said he and others in the project had the advantage of working with a relatively blank slate.

19. Cybercrime on the Rise - Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Despite increased awareness of cybercrime, cyber-attacks continue to plague companies from Memphis to Brussels to Subic Bay.

Cyber attacks are typically defined as criminal activities that are conducted by means of the Internet. With more and more companies relying on the Internet to do business, the frequency of cybercrime is certain to increase. These technology-based attacks can include stealing an organization’s intellectual property, gaining access to online bank accounts, creating and distributing viruses, and posting confidential business information on the Internet.

20. Memphis Advantage - Monday, April 02, 2012

As the industrial market approaches the end of the first quarter, a handful of deals have local brokers encouraged that the city’s bread-and-butter sector is poised for recovery.

Recent notable industrial leasing transactions – all of which occurred in Class A bulk warehouses – include Trane U.S. Inc.’s 625,000-square-foot lease in Chickasaw Distribution Center; Kimberly Clark Corp.’s 556,000-square-foot lease in Airways Distribution Center; and Impact Innovations’ 275,000-square-foot space at Southridge Corporate Park.

21. Group Weighs Schools Logistics - Monday, March 19, 2012

The city charter requires Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division to provide water to the Memphis City Schools system at no charge.

When MCS consolidates with the Shelby County Schools system in 2013, the merged system may have to pay a water bill as well as electric and gas bills. Or the free water may flow to the former county schools as well.

22. Former CN Chief Launches Academy - Friday, March 09, 2012

When E. Hunter Harrison speaks to the first class of the new leadership academy Friday, March 9, at the University of Memphis Intermodal Freight Transportation Institute, it will be the first step on a path to a different kind of front office.

23. The Right Place - Thursday, March 01, 2012

When people think of Memphis, they might picture an aerial shot of Downtown – skyscrapers, The Pyramid and all.

But Andy Cates’ view of Memphis is different. He sees the city’s “dirty, industrial real estate.”

24. Redistricting Up for Second Reading - Monday, February 20, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners will see Monday, Feb. 20, if there is still a seven-vote majority on the body to pass a new set of district lines and a new commission structure on the second of three readings.

25. Buckman International Invests in Community - Wednesday, January 25, 2012

It would be easy for students on their way to Springdale Elementary School on North Hollywood Street to not think much about the adults working inside Buckman offices and research centers on McLean Boulevard and Chelsea Avenue in North Memphis.

26. 'In the Middle' - Friday, December 30, 2011

Memphis executives and business owners moving their goods around the world this year kept a close eye on international developments like the Arab spring and the Greek government’s fiscal crisis.

27. As Panama Canal Expands, City ‘Located Perfectly’ - Monday, October 17, 2011

For months, those in the Memphis logistics trade have talked about the coming impact of the Panama Canal expansion, slated for completion in 2014.

The potential is the accommodation of larger ships carrying more containers to eastern seaboard ports as well as Texas’ Port of Houston and those goods moving from the east and south through Memphis via truck and train.

28. Grant Brings ‘Pop Up’ Art to Underserved Areas - Friday, October 14, 2011

Sometimes art pops up in the most unlikely of places. Thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, three underserved neighborhoods will have the city’s best performances delivered to their doorsteps.

29. Greyhound Move to Alter Downtown Gateway - Thursday, October 06, 2011

The recent listing of the Greyhound Bus Station in Downtown Memphis has a lot bigger impact for the city than meets the eye.

Dallas-based Greyhound Lines Inc. soon will move its depot to Memphis Area Transit Authority’s Airways Transit Center, 3033 Airways Blvd., near Memphis International Airport.

30. IP, Temple-Inland Reach Merger Deal - Wednesday, September 07, 2011

Memphis-based International Paper Co. will buy Temple-Inland Inc. of Austin, Texas, in a $4.3 billion deal announced Tuesday, Sept. 6, that increases IP’s dominance in industrial packaging.

31. Unlocking Lamar - Friday, August 26, 2011

The city’s major corridor for moving freight is also the city’s most congested roadway. And since June, state and local transportation and logistics planners have had a study that suggests a set of seven options, most of which would represent major changes for Lamar Avenue between the Mississippi state line and Interstate 240.

32. Region Sees Logistics Assets Grow - Monday, August 22, 2011

Change is afoot with the area’s transportation and logistics industries. New developments in the region – from a proposed third bridge spanning the Mississippi River to a new multimillion-dollar intermodal facility – should keep transportation and logistics as the area’s bread-and-butter businesses.

33. Trucking Official Addresses Host of Industry Issues - Friday, July 22, 2011

The president of the Tennessee Trucking Association has been part of the discussions before at gatherings to discuss the logistics industry and the business of moving goods by multiple modes.

And Dave Huneryager has heard those in the discussions talk about intermodal transportation as a way to “get more trucks off the road.”

34. Bridging the Gap - Friday, July 08, 2011

Between now and the end of the year, transportation planners in the tri-state area and beyond will round up the final work product that will go into the preliminary search for a new Mississippi River bridge at or near Memphis.

35. Plan to Train Engineers Applauded Locally - Thursday, June 16, 2011

President Barack Obama has announced an “all-hands-on-deck strategy” to train 10,000 new American engineers every year.

“Today, only 14 percent of all undergraduate students enroll in what we call the STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and math,” Obama said this week at a clean energy plant in Durham, N.C. “We can do better than that. We must do better than that. If we’re going to make sure the good jobs of tomorrow stay in America, stay here in North Carolina, we need to make sure all our companies have a steady stream of skilled workers to draw from.”

36. No Octane - Monday, May 30, 2011

Several of Memphis’ major publicly traded companies pointed to it during calls with analysts and presentations of their first quarter results.

An expected drop in automobile travel during the Memorial Day holiday weekend in Tennessee and neighboring states is expected to be influenced by it.

37. Fayette Norfolk Southern Work Begins - Monday, May 02, 2011

Tennessee state Sen. Delores Gresham compared it to Friday’s royal wedding. “This beats any royal wedding,” the Fayette County legislator said from beneath a white tent on a leveled dirt field where the Memphis Regional Intermodal Facility in Rossville is being built.

38. Perl: Collaboration is Key for Memphis to Remain Competitive - Thursday, April 28, 2011

The realities of business are undoubtedly changing.

John Kasarda, the University of North Carolina professor who coined the term “aerotropolis,” recently said that individual companies no longer compete – supply chains do. He also said the three rules of real estate have changed from location, location, location to accessibility, accessibility, accessibility. And there’s a new metric, he said. It’s no longer space, it’s time and cost.

39. Front and Center - Monday, April 11, 2011

Hundreds of aviation leaders from around the globe will descend on Memphis this week for the annual Airport Cities World Conference & Exhibition.

The three-day event gives Memphis a platform to tout its aerotropolis initiative – the promotion of the city’s economy centered on the airport, other transportation assets and their connectivity.

40. Memphis Defense Depot Slated for Sale - Monday, March 14, 2011

Memphis Defense Depot – the 4.2 million-square-foot industrial park and former Army base just north of Memphis International Airport – is back on the market.

Once sold, the property will return to the city and county tax base and deliver anticipated tax revenue of approximately $1 million annually, making it one of the more successful national Army base closures.

41. Memphis Defense Depot Slated for Sale - Friday, March 11, 2011

Memphis Defense Depot – the 4.2 million-square-foot industrial park and former Army base just north of Memphis International Airport – is back on the market.

Once sold, the property will return to the city and county tax base and deliver anticipated tax revenue of approximately $1 million annually, making it one of the more successful national Army base closures.

42. Dunavant Enterprises CEO ‘Bullish on Intermodal’ - Friday, March 11, 2011

Dunavant Enterprises CEO and president William Dunavant III asked how many in the luncheon group of 50 at the Traffic Club of Memphis thought gas would go back to $2 a gallon. No hands went up.

43. Gaining Momentum - Monday, March 07, 2011

The office leasing market in Memphis is gaining momentum in the first few months of this year, following a slow but steady 2010.

Last year, smaller users kept the market afloat. But in the past month, an influx of interest from large users has been a welcome – and pleasant – surprise for the market.

44. New Plants Bode Well for Industrial Sector - Monday, March 07, 2011

Although the overall commercial real estate market is soft, Memphis’ industrial sector appears to be gathering more steam than any other category.

With the arrival of such large projects like the Electrolux and Mitsubishi plants and Norfolk Southern Corp.’s new Fayette County intermodal yard, industry professionals hope ancillary business will bolster the industrial market by sparking new development, attracting new investors and enhancing the area’s economy.

45. Muller Brings Love for Memphis to Chamber - Monday, February 07, 2011

In the eyes of Dexter Muller, Memphis’ shining attribute is that it’s too big for its britches.

Memphis is the smallest city in the country that has a NBA team, an airline hub and a zoo with a panda exhibit.

46. Bridge to Everywhere - Monday, February 07, 2011

In four years, there could be a location in the Memphis area designated for the construction of a new intermodal bridge spanning the Mississippi River.

Exactly when construction would begin and how it would be funded are matters to be determined later.

47. High Cotton - Monday, December 13, 2010

Carol Perel points from her office to the other side of the ground-floor lobby at 65 Union Ave.

“That trading floor,” she says, “is the Graceland of cotton.”

48. The Logistics of Thank You - Friday, December 03, 2010

Editor’s Note: This is part two of a two-part series

There are two powerful words that keep doors open – Thank You. When delivered promptly, these two words increase friends, donors and funding. Part one of this series discussed the joys of giving and the negative effect of not saying thank you. This week, we present the logistics of donor acknowledgement.

49. Emphasis on Cargo Security Heightened - Thursday, November 04, 2010

Memphis’ prime location and robust infrastructure – five Class 1 railroads, several interstate highways, the nation’s fourth-busiest inland waterway port and the world’s largest cargo airport – make it a critical distribution center and focal point for intermodal transportation.

50. Memphis Booster Perl Joins Glankler Brown - Friday, October 29, 2010

It surely says something about labor attorney and Memphis booster Arnold Perl when his move to a new law firm in the city prompts what almost could be viewed as a sigh of relief from no less than Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr.

51. Eye on Trucking - Monday, October 18, 2010

A first-of-its-kind event catering to the transportation and logistics industry is coming to Memphis next weekend.

The city’s first annual Trucking Expo will be held Oct. 23 at Agricenter International. It is being presented by Memphis-based Worldwide Transport & Permit Service LLC, a commercial carrier and permitting service.

52. Pinnacle Move Bolsters Aerotropolis - Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Pinnacle Airlines Corp.’s recent announcement means a headquarters relocation to Downtown and away from the airport, but industry experts say the move will not hinder Memphis’ aerotropolis marketing.

53. The Law of Attraction - Monday, September 13, 2010

The state of Tennessee is basking in the glow of its growing reputation as a top destination for companies following a myriad of accolades for its favorable and welcoming business climate.

While Chief Executive magazine ranked the Volunteer State the nation’s third best for business, Southern Business & Development magazine named Tennessee its State of the Year.

54. Deyo Stirs Up Memphis Music Through Foundation - Thursday, August 19, 2010

King Curtis had it right. In the opening crescendo of his soul classic “Memphis Soul Stew,” he masterfully assembles his ingredients: “half a teacup of bass, a pound of fat-back drums, four tablespoons of boiling Memphis guitar.”

55. Dellinger Takes Readers on Trip Down Proposed I-69 - Wednesday, August 18, 2010

When Matt Dellinger came to Memphis a few years ago to research the book he was writing on Interstate 69, he stumbled upon the Little Tea Shop on Monroe Avenue.

The main reason he chose the storied Downtown eatery was because of its street number, 69, which he figured must be a sign considering his book’s subject matter – the new interstate coursing through middle America, including Memphis, from Canada to Mexico.

56. Gaining Speed - Monday, August 16, 2010

For years the Whitehaven community has been fighting against urban decay, crime and economic decline, including the effects of the recent recession.

But with ambitious plans for Graceland in the offing, committed political leadership in place and cooperation from the major players in the area, Whitehaven seems poised to turn an important corner.

57. I-240-Airways Project Stymied by Old Info - Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The aerotropolis initiative’s transportation work group has recommended reexamining the Interstate 240-Airways Boulevard interchange modification study after finding flaws in the study, most of which arose from the length of time it took to research the area.

58. City Rolls Out Red Carpet to Tout Assets - Friday, June 04, 2010

The Greater Memphis Chamber will give prospective businesses and national trade publications the proverbial star treatment next week when it hosts the Red Carpet Tour.

Set for June 8-10, the event is designed to showcase the economic advantages that Memphis can offer – from inexpensive commercial real estate to a logistics-laden work force, from the world’s busiest cargo airport to robust rail, road and river infrastructure.

59. United Way Chooses Committee Chairman - Thursday, May 20, 2010

The United Way of the Mid-South has announced a new chairman for its volunteer board of directors.

William J. Logue, president and chief executive officer of FedEx Freight Corp., is the chairman of the board, while Martha Perine Beard of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Memphis Branch is chairman-elect.

60. Port of Memphis Unaffected By Oil Spill – for Now - Thursday, May 06, 2010

Like many people in the country, Don McCrory is keeping a close eye on the Gulf of Mexico.

As executive director of the International Port of Memphis, McCrory is keenly aware of how the BP oil spill there could affect shipping lanes into gulf coast ports, which could in turn affect traffic up the Mississippi River.

61. UPS Optimistic About Economic Recovery - Wednesday, April 28, 2010

ATLANTA (AP) – Improving global economies helped shipping giant UPS boost its first-quarter profit and its prospects for the rest of the year, although a growing number of customers are choosing less-expensive options when sending packages.

62. Hijacked Captain to Headline Multi Modal Conference - Wednesday, April 28, 2010

One year ago Capt. Richard Phillips made headlines around the world when Somali pirates hijacked his cargo container ship, the MV Maersk Alabama, and took him hostage.

63. AEL Files Permit for Century Center Facility - Monday, March 15, 2010

American Esoteric Laboratories has taken another step toward building a $14.3 million lab and headquarters for its Mid-South division.

AEL, a regional provider of clinical laboratory services to physicians and hospitals, last week filed a $9.2 million permit to build a one-story, 70,000-square-foot facility at 1701 Century Center Parkway near the junction of Interstate 40 and Whitten Road.

64. Intermodal Yard Points to Larger Questions About Fayette’s Future - Monday, March 08, 2010

The Piperton-Rossville area of Fayette County will change and the central question is how.

But that’s not the only question to consider as Norfolk Southern works to assemble another $28.5 million in financing for its $112 million intermodal yard.

65. The Cost of Progress - Monday, March 08, 2010

The development of Norfolk Southern Corp.’s $112 million intermodal yard on a former cattle ranch in Fayette County has polarized the community for more than a year.

66. Negative Absorption Dings Market - Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The strength of Memphis’ commercial real estate market is its industrial sector, but the city’s bread and butter suffered a rare misstep in 2009, the most recent data show.

Memphis saw negative absorption of 352,797 square feet during the fourth quarter and negative absorption of 913,871 during 2009, according to a year-end report from CB Richard Ellis.

67. Hub Expansion on Horizon for FedEx - Monday, December 28, 2009

At the FedEx Super Hub, 15,000 employees greet thousands of flights and sort millions of packages each month, making it the heart and soul of the Memphis economy.

Those impressive numbers could soon grow now that FedEx Express has taken its first step toward a major hub expansion.

68. Findings Pinpoint Lamar Corridor’s Troubles - Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Anyone who has traveled along Lamar Avenue between Interstate 240 and the Mississippi state line knows how congested it can get, with a seemingly endless line of trucks driving both directions and backing up traffic.
Members of the Greater Memphis Chamber’s aerotropolis initiative now have a better idea of the corridor’s horrendous deficiencies.
Cambridge Systematics Inc., a Cambridge, Mass.-based firm that studies transportation assets and needs nationwide, late last week presented the preliminary findings of its Lamar Avenue Corridor Study to the aerotropolis initiative’s access and transportation committee.
The message is clear and not at all surprising: Lamar Avenue has a host of problems that need to be resolved if Memphis wants to continue its role as a critical link in the global supply chain.
The study, which kicked off in the summer, is addressing traffic flows and transportation needs within the Lamar Avenue corridor – the area bordered by I-240 to the north, the Mississippi state line to the south, Interstate 55 to the west and Hickory Hill to the east.
Cambridge Systematics is conducting the study in conjunction with the Memphis Metropolitan Planning Organization, the University of Memphis’ Intermodal Freight Transportation Institute and the chamber.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation assigned Cambridge Systematics to the study following a request from MPO; TDOT has an ongoing contract with Cambridge Systematics to assist local planning organizations around the state.

69. Tunica's New Cash Crop? - Monday, December 07, 2009

When Xiaolin “Charles” Wang was introduced at an October press conference announcing plans to build a $1 billion hybrid automotive plant in Tunica County, he was described by the emcee as a man who “dreams big and drives fast.”

70. Taking Off - Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Aviators attain flight and control the movements of their aircraft by precisely balancing the forces of lift, thrust, drag and gravity. The people piloting the aerotropolis initiative – the promotion of Memphis’ economy focused on the airport, other transportation assets and the connectivity among them – are negotiating their own set of physics in hopes of becoming airborne.

71. Taking Off - Monday, October 12, 2009

Aviators attain flight and control the movements of their aircraft by precisely balancing the forces of lift, thrust, drag and gravity. The people piloting the aerotropolis initiative – the promotion of Memphis’ economy focused on the airport, other transportation assets and the connectivity among them – are negotiating their own set of physics in hopes of becoming airborne.

72. Dunavant Subsidiary Joins Ranks Of Green Logistics Firms - Thursday, August 20, 2009

A Memphis-based third-party logistics firm has turned a rebranding campaign into a way to reinvent the way it does business.

Centrix Logistics, a wholly owned subsidiary of cotton company Dunavant Enterprises Inc., has joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership, a collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the transportation industry to increase fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions along the global supply chain.

73. Local Logistics Industry Embraces Norfolk Southern Expansion - Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Although Norfolk Southern Corp.’s planned $129 million intermodal yard won’t be built within the city limits but instead in neighboring Rossville, Memphis’ logistics and distribution industries stand to benefit from the railroad’s decision to expand its local presence.

74. Rail Yard Site All But Nailed - Thursday, July 16, 2009

The land where Norfolk Southern Corp. wants to build an intermodal yard was annexed Monday night by the town of Rossville, paving the way for the railroad’s proposed multimillion-dollar, multi-acre facility.

75. WHO Meets on Production of Swine Flu Vaccine - Friday, May 15, 2009

GENEVA (AP) As swine flu cases topped 6,600 worldwide, vaccine makers and other experts met Thursday at the World Health Organization to discuss the tough decisions that must be made quickly to fight the evolving virus.

76. Next Stop: Norfolk Southern’s intermodal plans take shape - Wednesday, March 18, 2009

The freight trains that rumble through Memphis are hard to ignore, especially the ones that parallel or bisect main thoroughfares and disrupt traffic. But even people who don’t cross railroad tracks during their commutes are likely to hear the distant blare of horns at some point during the day as locomotives make their way into and out of the city.

77. Fred Smith Talks Green: Helps the environment and Fedex's bottom line - Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Fred Smith is going green. In the case of the FedEx founder, however, it’s a different shade – something like military fatigue green.

78. New Study Shows Airport’s Impact - Friday, May 01, 2009

As far as economic engines go, it’s long been known that Memphis International Airport has the power of a 747.

A new study released this week confirmed the airport’s muscle, estimating that Memphis International pumps $28.6 billion into the region’s economy and provides, directly or indirectly, 34.3 percent – or one in three – local jobs.

79. Logistics Giants See Advantages in ‘Greening’ Operations - Thursday, April 23, 2009

Freight transportation isn’t inherently “green.” No industry that burns as much fossil fuel as planes, trains or trucks in moving goods from one place to another can be considered sustainable or environmentally friendly.

80. Smith Signals Turning Point With ‘Green’ Emphasis - Wednesday, April 22, 2009

FedEx Corp. is known for its orange and purple logo, but company founder Fred Smith this week revealed his proclivity for an entirely different color – green.

81. Citizens Concerned About I-269 Impact - Thursday, March 19, 2009

When Interstate 269 is completed, it will serve as an outer loop for the entire Mid-South region, a beltway linking communities and providing easier access for vehicles traveling into or out of Memphis.

82. Air Cargo Conference Puts Memphis At Center of Industry - Thursday, February 19, 2009

The timing couldn’t be better: Just a month after Memphis International Airport was named the world’s busiest cargo airport for the 17th consecutive year, it will roll out the red carpet for the Airports Council International–North America Air Cargo conference, further proving to the world that Memphis is the epicenter of air shipping.

83. Study to Gauge Airport’s Economic Impact - Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Seeing the FedEx planes line the Memphis sky each night or driving past the city’s countless distribution centers are reminders that Memphis International Airport plays a prominent role in the city’s economy.

84. Memphis Logistics Defies Storms, Stays on Top - Wednesday, December 24, 2008

This past year was a mixed bag for the logistics and distribution industries, with a smattering of good news and bad news throughout 2008.

Mother Nature made perhaps the biggest impact of the year when devastating storms ripped through the area’s warehouse district Feb. 5, damaging distribution centers and forcing companies to find new storage places.

85. Covington Works To Advance Aerotropolis Concept - Wednesday, October 29, 2008

During his first three months as vice president of logistics and aerotropolis development for the Memphis Regional Chamber, Jim Covington has developed a pretty good roadmap of his primary job duties.

86. Norris Appointed to Join Effort to Examine Financial Health of State’s Transportation System - Friday, October 10, 2008

In the eight years Mark Norris has been in the state senate, the Collierville Republican has made transportation issues a priority.

87. DRA Report Could Spark Federal Funding - Wednesday, August 06, 2008

The Delta Regional Authority has submitted its study of multimodal transportation assets and needs to the federal government, a massive document chockfull of issues pertaining to Memphis’ logistics and distribution sectors.

88. For Covington, Attitude is Half The Battle - Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Jim Covington isn’t overly worried about rising gas prices, struggling airlines and other woes affecting the transportation industry. Instead, the Memphis Regional Chamber’s newly hired vice president of logistics and aerotropolis development is emboldened by those challenges as he settles in his position.

89. Port Honor Shows ‘What Memphis Is About’ - Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Donald McCrory hadn’t heard that the International Port of Memphis would be featured this summer by the U.S. Custom House Guide as its “Port of the Month,” but he wasn’t surprised by the news either.

90. Logistics Sector Hit Hard By Rising Fuel Prices - Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The rising cost of fuel, specifically diesel, is having a dramatic effect on the logistics and distribution industries, and it could signal a shift in the way shippers move cargo – not to mention how much cargo they actually have to move.

91. Primacy Sinks Roots Deeper in Asia - Thursday, March 27, 2008

Thanks to Asia's manufacturing volume and Memphis' distribution network, plenty of links exist between these two faraway places, but the latest display of their connection doesn't involve the movement of products throughout the world.

92. Hong Kong Closes On Memphis' Airport Ranking - Wednesday, March 19, 2008

When Memphis International Airport was named last week as the world's busiest cargo airport for the 16th consecutive year, the rankings indicated that an already slim lead over No. 2 Hong Kong had narrowed even more.

93. Capital-Gains Cut Would Have Minimal Effect Locally, Economist Says - Friday, February 08, 2008

The National Association of Manufacturers and other groups are proposing a cut to the long-term corporate capital-gains tax, but how much that move would directly benefit Memphis' manufacturing businesses remains unclear.

94. Trucking Industry In For 'Lackluster' '08 - Wednesday, January 09, 2008

The national trucking industry received mixed reviews as 2007 drew to a close. While it posted solid numbers in November, the business otherwise finished with a lackluster year, according to the most recent report by the Arlington, Va.-based American Trucking Associations (ATA).

95. Memphis Industrial Market Experiences 'Flat' 3rd Quarter - Monday, November 19, 2007

One large and lingering transaction resulted in a poor showing for Memphis' industrial leasing market during the third quarter of 2007.

Carrier Corp. formally vacated the 500,000 square feet it once occupied in the Southpoint Distribution Center in South Memphis to move to Holly Springs, Miss., in Marshall County.

96. Memphis Plays Integral Role in Logistics Future - Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Peter Ladouceur of Canadian National Railway Co. stood before Memphis' top transportation professionals last week and recalled a famous scene from the movie "The Graduate," in which the lead character is advised to consider a career in "plastics."

97. Conference To Examine Intermodal Future In Memphis - Wednesday, October 31, 2007

When a butterfly flaps its wings in China, it may or may not create a change in the atmosphere and bring thunderstorms to Memphis a week later.

But if a company that manufactures butterfly nets is forced to shut down its production for a month during next summer's Beijing Olympics to reduce air pollution, then warehouses, transportation companies and distribution centers everywhere surely will feel the impact.

98. Touch and Go - Wednesday, September 12, 2007

What's in a name?

An out-of-town company answered that ageless question by choosing a moniker that taps into the city's burgeoning "aerotropolis" concept, in which Memphis International Airport serves as a hub of business, retail and other activity sprouting up around it.

99. PharMEDium Expected to Create Up to 250 Jobs In First Five Years - Friday, July 13, 2007

Illinois-based pharmacy compounding company PharMEDium Healthcare Corp. has closed on nine acres of property in the Distriplex Farms industrial park south of Holmes Road and is moving ahead with plans to create a compounding facility in Memphis.

100. 'Memphis Delivers' Touts Web Site, Newspaper Ads - Wednesday, July 11, 2007

In an effort to attract the attention of some outside corporations and bigwigs, the Memphis Regional Chamber has launched a Web site to showcase all Memphis has to offer any business considering a move to the city.