Shelby Farms Park is gearing up for the second annual Mempho Music Festival and another chance to showcase the country’s largest urban park to a diverse and wide-reaching audience.
Memphis’ newest music festival is expecting a crowd of 20,000 on Oct. 6 and 7, which is impressive for a park two years out from a $70 million renovation embarked upon in 2010 with a distant vision for such an event.
The master plan for the park was designed not only for people to recreate and relax, but as a place to build community, and a music festival can be a big part of that, said Jen Andrews, executive director of Shelby Farms Park. Andrews has always had a larger vision for the park as a place where the community could come together and take ownership and pride in the best that Memphis has to offer.
Enter another visionary, native Memphian Diego Winegardner, founder of Mempho Fest and CEO of Big River Presents, which is putting on the festival. Winegardner grew up in Memphis and now lives outside of New York City where his day job is in finance and investment management. A couple of years ago on a trip home to Memphis he met some old friends for a bike ride at Shelby Farms Park.
“I was completely blown away,” Winegardner said. “The sun was setting on Hyde Lake, and I had this lightning-bolt moment of how special it would be to bring a world-class music festival to this site.
I thought about Memphis’ place in the annals of American music as the birthplace of blues, soul and R&B and the hip hop scene that we have here.
“If you think about the labels … Sun, Stax, Royal…I was exposed to all of that growing up, and seeing B.B. King on Beale Street was just normal,” he said. “I didn’t appreciate it until I was gone. I started to get really nostalgic about my hometown.”
Winegardner is a music enthusiast who has been to most of the notable music festivals in the U.S. and many around the world. He had the resources and connections to realize his dream. Last year, the first Mempho Fest kicked off with great success with 10,000 in attendance for two days of concerts featuring a variety of bands from different music genres.
“I’ve always been a big fan of (Memphis) and its people and a big defender of the city and its history,” Winegardner said. “This music festival was born out of my passion for music and my passion for the city of Memphis.”
When Winegardner first met with Andrews two years ago to pitch his idea, she caught his vision right away.
He approached it cautiously and wanted to understand how to protect the park and still give people a good experience, she said. “We like working with Diego,” she said. “They care about the park, and like us, have a big, bold vision, and they hired a professional team who knew how to put on a safe and fun event.”
This year’s festival will feature two days of multi-genre music headlined by Grammy Award-winning artist and hip-hop superstar Post Malone as well as Beck, Phoenix, NAS and Janelle Monae. Local talent like Lucero and alternative Mac deMarco also will perform, and there will be a special tribute to Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios featuring the label’s past and present stars.
Sunday will feature performances by crowd favorites like George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic and Stones Throw, Chuck Laevell’s Rolling Stones’ backer band.
The festival will not only expand in attendance, but will add a larger culinary and craft beer presence in addition to on-site camping and VIP and super-VIP experiences.
“We’re trying to create more than just music on a stage,” said Winegardner, who also created a nonprofit arm called Mempho Matters that will partner with organizations that line-up with the vision of the festival, such as Oceanic Global Foundation, #BringYourSoul, Learn to Rock and the Memphis Area Women’s Council’s “Memphis Says NO MORE” campaign.
As part of Mempho’s partnership with the Oceanic Global Foundation, the festival has a 100 percent waste-free goal, which will start with its no straw policy.
“A best practice environmental policy is important to help make sure the park is as pristine when we leave as when we showed up,” said Winegardner.
The partnership promoting the Memphis Area Women’s Council’s “NO MORE” campaign is to make sure that Mempho Fest’s female attendees feel safe. Winegardner, who has a teenage daughter, knows stories about the lack of safety for females at other events, prompting him to take up the cause.
“In this day and age, you really have to take a stand and make it an institutional part of our way of doing things,” he said.
Money raised through Mempho Matters will also benefit the Memphis community through contributions to musical education in the form of free tickets for students and teachers to attend the festival as well as instruments and money for music education in local schools.
Last year, Mempho Matters gave away 2,000 tickets to students and teachers.
“We want to build bridges into the community and be as inclusive as possible,” Winegardner said. “We want to educate the children and the youth of tomorrow about the history of Memphis musically and create a sense of pride for its citizens while also attracting new people and adding another chapter to Memphis’ long, rich history.”
Andrews is optimistic about the growth of Mempho Fest this year, projecting double the attendance in its second year as well as adding 400 weekend camping permits. Those include primitive camping, RV hookups and glamping.
“The camping option is an important part of festival culture, and one of the great benefits of the park is its tremendous scale, which can accommodate that,” Andrews said.
But the plan is to grow Mempho Fest slowly, she said.
“We learned a lot the first year, and we’re applying the learning to this year’s festival,” she said. “We have a strong plan for safely managing the crowd. We want this to be a world-class festival.”
Big River Productions and Winegardner have an undisclosed agreement with Shelby Farms Park, and both entities hope to continue the relationship.
“I’m hoping that Mempho Fest will become a long-term asset for the city of Memphis,” Winegardner said.
Music remains a big driver of visitors to Memphis — 56 percent of leisure visitors come to the city for something related to music, said Kevin Kane, president and CEO of Memphis Tourism, formerly called the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’re supporters of (Mempho Fest),” he said. “We believe in it and want to see it grow. Music festivals have a big impact on the economy. The more events we have based in music the better, and we think it’s great to utilize Shelby Farms in this way.”

2. West Cancer Center Adds OneOncology as Partner - Friday, September 14, 2018

West Cancer Center is ending its formal partnership with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare at the end of 2018, and adding a new national partner beginning in January.

Over the past seven years, West Cancer Center said that it and Methodist have both been deeply committed to “providing the most innovative health care options and building a superior, innovative, research-driven adult cancer center.”

3. All Things Digital - Friday, September 14, 2018

Ray’s Take: It is estimated that by 2020, more than 50 billion Internet-connected devices will be used by 7.8 billion people – doubling the amount of devices per person. This shouldn’t come as shock to any of us. We have all witnessed and been a part of this major digital era.

4. As Job Openings Reach Unprecedented Levels, So Does Quitting - Wednesday, September 12, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers advertised the most jobs on record in July, and the number of workers quitting their jobs also hit a new all-time high.

Americans are increasingly taking advantage of a tight labor market to find new, often higher-paying jobs.

5. New Townhomes Slated for Vacant Midtown Lot - Friday, September 7, 2018

A developer who has redeveloped 650 multifamily units in the Memphis area is planning to build 10 more units on a vacant lot in Midtown.

Amin Zaki, founder of Stella Maris Development, has plans to build 10 townhouse-style apartment units and a community courtyard at 1619 Monroe Ave.

6. The Seam Eyes Growth With New Personnel, Technologies - Saturday, September 8, 2018

With nearly 20 years of software development for commodities industries like cotton and peanuts, local fintech company The Seam is looking to the future, developing new technologies supporting sustainable agriculture initiatives.

7. Blazing Trails - Saturday, September 8, 2018

What a difference a decade can make. Successful local entrepreneurs like Muddy’s Bake Shop founder Kat Gordon, Hollywood Feed president Shawn McGhee, and executive chefs and owners Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman at Enjoy A|M Restaurant Group spent that time growing their small businesses into thriving enterprises over that time.

8. Developers Seek PILOT for South Downtown Project - Thursday, September 6, 2018

As drivers come across the old bridge and pedestrians and cyclists come across Big River Crossing, they soon could see an adaptive reuse of an old warehouse.

Mike Kennedy of Parachute Investment Co. has teamed up with development consultant Amelia Carkuff and York Construction to flip a three-story warehouse into 24 apartment units and 1,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor.

9. Ayanna Pressley Calls Upset House Win 'Surreal,' Gets in Trump Dig - Thursday, September 6, 2018

BOSTON (AP) — The black Boston city councilor whose upset primary win over a 10-term congressman stunned Massachusetts' political establishment called her victory "surreal" Wednesday and said the wave of inclusiveness sweeping the nation is the best way to counter President Donald Trump.

10. Last Word: Southbrook Mall, Dean on Development and Cats & Thyroids - Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Public money for a shopping mall with public uses is on the agenda for a special meeting this week of the EDGE board. And the Southbrook Mall saga is an extended story over several years with several different plans to get public money that at first blush was to fix the roof and perhaps HVAC and then let the private property owned by a nonprofit be on its way. It’s much more complex than that.

11. Blackburn Names Campaign Finance Chairmen - Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s Senate campaign received an injection of old-school political support Tuesday, Sept. 4, from Pilot Corp. founder Jim Haslam II and Middle Tennessee State University board of trustees chairman Stephen Smith.

12. Enthusiastic Fans Embrace City’s New Soccer Team - Tuesday, September 4, 2018

How’s this for a 9-01 day? At 9:01 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1, Memphis’ expansion United Soccer League franchise rolled out its logo and identity as Memphis 901 FC on social media.

By 12:01 p.m., fans were already snatching up gear in the team’s AutoZone Park store – seven months before 901 FC plays its first game in March.

13. Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh, Senators Prep for Marathon Confirmation Hearing - Monday, September 3, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh isn't the only one engaging in practice sessions ahead of this week's grueling confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

14. Funding Home Improvement Projects - Friday, August 31, 2018

Ray’s Take: If you talk to any homeowner, he or she can probably spout a list of 10 things that need to be repaired or improved on their home – whether the home is brand new or 50 years old, it usually makes no difference. Whether it be a new deck or a new roof, at some point in your life, you will want to start a special home improvement project.

15. Trump: White House Counsel Don McGahn to Depart in the Fall - Thursday, August 30, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House counsel Don McGahn, who has maintained a front row seat in Trump administration controversies and accomplishments, will be leaving in the fall after the expected Senate confirmation vote for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday.

16. Council Approves TDZ Financing for Second Convention Center Hotel - Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Memphis City Council members approved the use of Tourism Development Zone revenues Tuesday, Aug. 28, to finance the construction of a second convention center hotel as they delayed any decisions on long-term crowd control and safety measures in the Beale Street entertainment district.

17. New Post Office Coming to Southwind - Wednesday, August 29, 2018

A new Post Office will open Wednesday, Aug. 29, in Winchester Commons shopping center at Hacks Cross and Winchester roads.

The Hacks Cross Finance Unit is located at 7948 Winchester, Suite 12, near Southwind and the FedEx Express World Headquarters. Retail hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

18. Cohen's Lawyer Walks Back Claim Trump Knew of Russia Meeting - Tuesday, August 28, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — Another day, another twist in what Michael Cohen may — or may not — know about Donald Trump, Russian dirt and the 2016 election.

19. War Hero and Presidential Candidate John McCain Dies at 81 - Monday, August 27, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John McCain, who faced down his captors in a Vietnam prisoner of war camp with jut-jawed defiance and later turned his rebellious streak into a 35-year political career that took him to Congress and the Republican presidential nomination, died Saturday after battling brain cancer for more than a year. He was 81.

20. A President Who Demands Loyalty Finds It Fleeting In DC - Monday, August 27, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Et tu, Michael Cohen? Loyalty has long been a core value for President Donald Trump. But he's learning the hard way that in politics, it doesn't always last.

21. Last Word: Court Watch, Haslam on Education and George Will on the Senate Race - Friday, August 24, 2018

The last of the testimony concluded in Memphis Federal Court Thursday with legal briefs due from all sides in the case of Memphis Police Department surveillance of protesters by Sept. 24. Then U.S. District Judge Jon P. McCalla will make his ruling on whether the Tennessee ACLU has standing to bring the lawsuit. And if he rules the organization does have standing, he will then rule on what sanctions the police department will face for the surveillance over the last two years.

22. Sessions Hits Trump Back: Won't be 'Improperly Influenced' - Friday, August 24, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump, newly incensed by campaign allegations, plunged back into his criticism of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, claiming in an interview that Sessions "never took control of the Justice Department" after Trump put him there. Sessions quickly hit back, declaring that he and his department "will not be improperly influenced by political considerations."

23. Panel Dismisses GOP Governor’s Race Campaign Finance Complaints - Friday, August 24, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee panel has dismissed campaign finance complaints against two Republican gubernatorial candidates that preceded the Aug. 2 primary election.

The Registry of Election Finance on Wednesday dismissed a complaint about GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Lee from June. The complaint claimed Lee used his businesses to supplement his campaign without disclosure and beyond limits.

24. Last Word: Day Two in Federal Court, Cohen on Manafort and Saturation Concerns - Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings on the witness stand Tuesday in Memphis Federal Court for day two of the trial on police surveillance of protesters.

And Rallings testified that he had only a “vague” knowledge of the 1978 federal consent decree banning such surveillance prior to the lawsuit filed in 2017 by protesters put on the City Hall security list. As a supervisor at the police training academy, Rallings also testified that the rules set by the decree to prevent political surveillance of protesters were not taught to police officers to his knowledge.

25. The Week Ahead: Aug. 20-26 - Monday, August 20, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Fall is just around the corner and the weather later this week may give a you a more convincing notion of that. Here is a list of events and meetings that may be of interest as you get the week started.

26. Compass Schools Conversion Pared From 9 Jubilee Schools to 6 - Friday, August 17, 2018

The Shelby County Schools Board will consider adding nine new charter schools to the system in 2019-2020, including six Catholic Jubilee schools slated to become Compass Community Schools.

Compass originally planned to take over nine of the Jubilee schools in the Memphis Catholic Diocese system, but has pared that back to six. The SCS board meets in special session Wednesday, Aug. 22, so it can hit a state deadline on what is a second round of charter applications.

27. Why Local One Commerce Square Owners Are Selling to Out-of-State Investors - Wednesday, August 15, 2018

After successfully renovating the 29-story iBank Tower in Downtown Memphis, the work is done for a group of prominent Memphis investors as they prepare to sell the office building to a new owner with deeper pockets.

28. The Week Ahead: Aug. 13-19 - Monday, August 13, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! A host a government meetings and late summer movie offerings mark this week in mid-August. The Labor Day holiday weekend and start of football season isn’t too far off.

29. Last Word: Transition Time, Two Years of Heart and Eads De-Annexation Growth - Thursday, August 9, 2018

Here comes the transition in the county mayor’s office. Shelby County Mayor-elect Lee Harris announced Wednesday that the transition team will be co-chaired by former Downtown Memphis Commission president Paul Morris and former Grizz coach Lionel Hollins. Harris’s campaign manager Danielle Inez will be executive director of the transition team. They are soliciting applications to be on the transition team and the resumes have to be in soon. Harris takes office as outgoing mayor Mark Luttrell leaves at the end of this month.

30. Montreal-based Investor Has Contract to Purchase One Commerce Square - Thursday, August 9, 2018

A Montreal-based real estate investor is under contract to buy One Commerce Square. The pending sale was revealed in a letter to the Downtown Memphis Commission.

The sale must receive approval from the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. (CCRFC) board for reassignment of the existing payment in lieu of taxes lease on the 30-story Downtown office building.

31. Montreal-based investor has contract to purchase One Commerce Square - Thursday, August 9, 2018

A Montreal-based real estate investor is under contract to buy One Commerce Square.

The pending sale was revealed in a letter to the Downtown Memphis Commission. The sale must receive approval from the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. (CCRFC) board for reassignment of the existing payment in lieu of taxes lease on the 30-story Downtown office building.

32. Consultant: Arkansas Tax Cuts May Lower Population, Economy - Wednesday, August 8, 2018

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas' economy and population will shrink if state officials use spending reductions to finance an income tax cut, according to a consultant for the state's tax-overhaul task force.

33. Police HQ No Longer in Running for Second Convention Center Hotel - Tuesday, August 7, 2018

The Civic Center Plaza building that is currently Memphis Police Department headquarters is out of the running to be the site of a second convention center hotel.

“That site was contemplated in the beginning. It’s no longer in the running,” Downtown Memphis Commission president Jennifer Oswalt said of 170 N. Main St. on the WKNO/Channel 10 program “Behind The Headlines.”

34. Trump Appears to Change Story on Meeting with Russian Lawyer - Tuesday, August 7, 2018

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — President Donald Trump appears to have changed his story about a 2016 meeting at Trump Tower that is pivotal to the special counsel's investigation, tweeting that his son met with a Kremlin-connected lawyer to collect information about his political opponent.

35. Jury Tells Pork Giant to Pay $473.5M in Nuisance Lawsuit - Monday, August 6, 2018

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal jury decided Friday that the world's largest pork producer should pay $473.5 million to neighbors of three North Carolina industrial-scale hog farms for unreasonable nuisances they suffered from odors, flies and rumbling trucks

36. U.S. Officials Raise Alarm About 2018, 2020 Election Security - Friday, August 3, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has directed a "vast, government-wide effort" to protect American elections after Russian attempts to interfere in 2016, the White House said Thursday.

37. Former Madison County Employees Indicted - Thursday, August 2, 2018

Madison County’s former facilities maintenance supervisor and a former accounts payable clerk have been indicted for stealing county funds.

Details of the investigation have been released by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury following the indictments of Donna Williams, a former accounts payable clerk in the Madison County Finance Department, and Eric Skinner, Madison County’s former facilities maintenance supervisor.

38. SCS Closes On Bayer Building To House New Central Office - Thursday, August 2, 2018

Shelby County Schools board members voted Tuesday, July 31, to buy the Bayer Building, 3030 Jackson Ave., as the new central office of the school system for $6.6 million.

39. Shelby County Schools Closes on Bayer Building As New Central Office - Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Shelby County Schools board members voted Tuesday, July 31, to buy the Bayer Building, 3030 Jackson Ave., as the new central office of the school system for $6.6 million.

40. Hale Named Principal Owner At Pickering Firm - Wednesday, August 1, 2018

After 17 years with Pickering Firm Inc., James Hale has been tapped as one of the architecture and engineering firm’s principal owners. As director of finance and administration, Hale is responsible for overseeing all financial operations of the firm and the day-to-day fiscal management of the company. Hale, who is based in Pickering’s Memphis office, also oversees all accounting and administrative staff, including human resources and IT.

41. Trump administration considering tax break on capital gains - Wednesday, August 1, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is studying the idea of implementing a big tax break for wealthy Americans by reducing the taxes levied on capital gains, but no decision has been made yet on whether to proceed.

42. Eggxactly Breakfast & Deli to Open in Whitehaven - Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Wendell and Adrena Jackson are seeking an Inner City Economic Development (ICED) loan from the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) of Memphis and Shelby County to convert a former beauty/barbershop into a restaurant.

43. Improved Facility Slated for Whitehaven Cheer Nonprofit - Tuesday, July 31, 2018

A nonprofit that teaches gymnastics, dance and cheerleading to kids in the Whitehaven, Levi and Mitchell communities is seeking a forgivable loan to fix up its practice facility.

Regina Tappan, director of the Memphis Area Youth Association (MAYA), has applied for a three-year, $20,000 Inner City Economic Development (ICED) loan from the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) of Memphis and Shelby County.

44. Last Word: Sunflowers, Poplar-Ridgeway TIF and Meet The Developer of The Bucc - Thursday, July 26, 2018

You wait for it all year but it always comes as a surprise when you see them by the side of the road beckoning with their bright colors and their solid stance on the horizon as early voters head for Agricenter in search of a bit of scenery before making their choices. The sunflowers – What did you think I was talking about? -- began blooming on Walnut Grove Tuesday, the first of two phases from more than 78,000 sunflower seeds planted at Agricenter. They last a few weeks and with the staggered plantings, the new crop should be in its full glory about a month from now. Please don’t pick the sunflowers. Agricenter has designated parking areas after you enter on Timber Creek Drive. Just follow the signs.

45. De-Annexation Plan Encounters Council Resistance - Wednesday, July 25, 2018

The Strickland administration’s proposal to de-annex two more parts of the city – Southwind-Windyke and Rocky Point – got bad reviews Tuesday, July 24, in city council committee sessions on their way to the first of three council votes in August.

46. Shelby County Commission, Mayor Still Waging Legal Battle - Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Shelby County commissioners set the stage Monday, July 23, for a final showdown with Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell over who represents what part of county government in legal matters.

47. Last Word: Polls & Precinct Splits, Behind The Roundhouse Revival and The Bubba - Tuesday, July 24, 2018

With a week left in early voting we have reached that part in the campaign where candidates and campaigns have one last chance to read the signs, interpret them on how this is going and act. They will still be doing the first two things up until the polls close on Aug. 2. But very shortly there won’t be time to do the third and have it make a difference in the outcome.

48. County Commission, Mayor To End Terms at Odds Over Legal Representation - Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Shelby County commissioners set the stage Monday, July 23, for a final showdown with Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell over who represents what part of county government in legal matters.

49. Council Gets First Look at Sanitation Overhaul - Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Memphis City Council members offer their first thoughts Tuesday, July 23, on the reconfiguration of city sanitation services outlined last week by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.

50. Restoration Ringleaders - Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Backers of a restored Mid-South Coliseum took stock Saturday, July 21, of a mothballed arena and a city Fairgrounds plan that leaves it inactive for now.

The third Roundhouse Revival over the weekend remained an outdoor event with the Coliseum as a backdrop.

51. Trump Finds it 'Inconceivable' Lawyer Would Tape a Client - Monday, July 23, 2018

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — Donald Trump said Saturday he finds it "inconceivable" that a lawyer would tape a client, as the president weighed in after the disclosure that in the weeks before the 2016 election, his then-personal attorney secretly recorded their discussion about a potential payment for a former Playboy model's account of having an affair with Trump.

52. Arrive Hotel Breaks Ground on South Main Location - Saturday, July 21, 2018

“You can feel the momentum in Memphis,” Mayor Jim Strickland said during his opening remarks at the groundbreaking of Arrive Hotel’s newest location.

53. Arrive Hotel Breaks Ground on South Main Location - Saturday, July 21, 2018

“You can feel the momentum in Memphis,” mayor Jim Strickland said during his opening remarks at the groundbreaking of Arrive Hotel’s newest location.

54. - Friday, July 20, 2018

55. US Political Spending Getting More Secretive With IRS Change - Friday, July 20, 2018

Political spending in the U.S. is about to become even more secretive after the IRS this week dropped a requirement that many nonprofits have to provide lists of their major donors.

The federal government will stop collecting donor information from certain types of nonprofit groups, including business associations, labor unions and "social welfare" organizations, which have become major players in the nation's politics over the past decade.

56. New IRS Policy Allows Some Tax-Exempt Groups to Veil Donors - Wednesday, July 18, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration is lifting requirements that some tax-exempt groups disclose the identities of their donors to federal tax authorities.

The change benefits groups that spend millions of dollars on political ads, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and an organization tied to the billionaire Koch brothers.

57. Youth Villages' New Board Chair, Jimmy Lackie, Believes in the Process - Monday, July 16, 2018

A lot has changed since 1984 when James “Jimmy” D. Lackie first became involved with the forerunner to Youth Villages. Spence Wilson, CEO of Kemmons Wilson, Inc., had asked Lackie to assist on a capital campaign at Dogwood Villages. This was two years before Dogwood merged with Memphis Boys Town to create Youth Villages.

58. Cash Saver Secures $100K Loan From EDGE - Saturday, July 14, 2018

The Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County has awarded a $100,000 low-interest loan to Castle Retail Group for its new Cash Saver location in South Memphis.

The EDGE Economic Development Finance Committee on Wednesday, July 11, approved the seven-year loan at a 2 percent interest rate in order to complete the financing on the $1.1 million supermarket.

59. Cash Saver Secures $100K Loan From EDGE - Friday, July 13, 2018

The Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County has awarded a $100,000 low-interest loan to Castle Retail Group for its new Cash Saver location in South Memphis.

The EDGE Economic Development Finance Committee on Wednesday, July 11, approved the seven-year loan at a 2 percent interest rate in order to complete the financing on the $1.1 million supermarket.

60. Treasury Bonds, Savings Bonds are Gifts That Keep on Giving - Friday, July 13, 2018

Ray’s Take: U.S. savings bonds were once considered the ugly duckling of personal investments. It seemed the only time people bought them was when they were feeling super patriotic or when you couldn’t think of a better gift to give someone. Growing up, I remember them being a popular gift for newborns – the thought being that as the baby grows so does the money.

61. Lawson Ups Game, On and Off the Court - Friday, July 13, 2018

Kara Lawson provided plenty of assists for the University of Tennessee on the basketball court during her career. The former All-American point guard is hoping to do the same in a new role.

62. Arkansas Lottery Revenue at Record $500M - Thursday, July 12, 2018

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery raised nearly $92 million for college scholarships in fiscal 2018, the third-largest amount raised in its nine years of operation.

63. Downtown Board Approves Tax Breaks for South Main, Beale Projects - Thursday, July 12, 2018

A pair of potentially place-changing projects were approved for PILOTs by the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. on Tuesday, July 10.

64. Last Word: Another Twist in Court, Harris-Lenoir at NCRM and Fairgrounds Specifics - Wednesday, July 11, 2018

One more twist in the early voting schedule that kicks off Friday. It came in the second day of hearings Tuesday in Chancery Court as Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins was preparing to sign the court order from Monday night’s hearing. The election commission said it couldn’t meet the order’s deadline of opening all 27 sites on Monday. Jenkins made it a Tuesday opening but this nearly went off the rails.

65. Downtown Board Approves Tax Breaks for South Main, Beale Projects - Wednesday, July 11, 2018

A pair of potentially place-changing projects were approved for PILOTs by the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. on Tuesday, July 10.

66. Beale Hotel, South Main Mixed-Use Top Busy Week In Development - Tuesday, July 10, 2018

It’s a busy week for the city of Memphis when it comes to economic development. The Downtown Memphis Commission has two of its affiliate boards, the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. and the Design Review Board, in action this week, while the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County is holding a meeting for its Economic Development Finance Committee.

67. U of M Women’s Golfers Honored for Academics - Saturday, July 7, 2018

Three members of the University of Memphis women’s golf team were named Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholars for having a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher through this past season. Memphis’ two All-Conference honorees from last season, Sydney Colwill and Emily Goldenstein, earned repeat honors on the list, while sophomore Abigail Herrmann was a first-time honoree.

68. The Week Ahead: July 9-15 - Monday, July 9, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! This week delivers a blast with some entertainment straight out of the '80s, plus your chance to tour a midcentury property in the midst of a restoration. Plus, we share what you need to know about early voting, I-240 closures, and plenty of other local happenings in The Week Ahead...

69. New Beale Street Hotel, A Vehicle ‘Vending Machine,’ and New Life on Former Buccaneer Site - Monday, July 9, 2018

380 Beale St.
Memphis, TN 38103

Project Cost: $16 million

Application Date: July 10

Owner: Miller Memphis Inc.

Tenant: TCH Memphis LLC

70. U of M Women’s Golfers Honored for Academics - Friday, July 6, 2018

Three members of the University of Memphis women’s golf team were named Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholars for having a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher through this past season. Memphis’ two All-Conference honorees from last season, Sydney Colwill and Emily Goldenstein, earned repeat honors on the list, while sophomore Abigail Herrmann was a first-time honoree.

71. When You Need Money Fast - Friday, July 6, 2018

Ray’s Take: It’s something we hope never happens to us, but at least once in your life, you will find yourself needing money fast. More than you ever dreamed of when you set up your six months’ worth of expenses emergency fund. So what do you do if you find yourself in this situation?

72. Hotel Planned For Fourth and Beale Vacant Nightspot - Friday, July 6, 2018

Plans for a five-story 120-room hotel on the northeast corner of Fourth and Beale Street go to the Center City Revenue Finance Corporation Tuesday, July 10, seeking a 15-year tax break for the $16 million project.

73. Hotel Planned For Fourth and Beale Vacant Nightspot - Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Plans for a five-story, 120-room hotel on the northeast corner of Fourth and Beale Street go to the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. Tuesday, July 10, seeking a 15-year tax break for the $16 million project.

74. Collecting Online Sales Taxes No Cure-All For State - Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Tennessee’s political officials are lauding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision enabling states to effectively collect sales taxes from out-of-state online retailers.

But don’t expect the result of South Dakota v. Wayfair to be a watershed moment for the state budget. If you’re looking for a windfall to bolster education or house the homeless, close your eyes and dream on, because this likely isn’t about mo’ money, mo’ money.

75. Arkansas Ends Fiscal Year With Nearly $42M Surplus - Wednesday, July 4, 2018

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas finance officials say the state ended the fiscal year with a nearly $42 million surplus.

The Department of Finance and Administration said Tuesday the state ended the fiscal year with nearly $5.5 billion in net available revenue. That's $146.2 million higher than the previous fiscal year and $41.7 million above forecast.

76. Graceland Again Files Suit Over Whitehaven Arena Plans - Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Graceland’s third Chancery Court action in less than a year was its most anticipated. Elvis Presley Enterprises filed a complaint in Shelby County Chancery Court June 29 seeking a declaratory judgment on whether its plans for an arena in Whitehaven violate the noncompete agreement city and county governments have with the part of the Memphis Grizzlies that runs FedExForum for both local governments.

77. Dye, Longtime Mississippi Lieutenant Governor, Dies at 84 - Tuesday, July 3, 2018

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Brad Dye, who was lieutenant governor longer than anyone else in Mississippi history, died Sunday at age 84 from respiratory failure.

His son, Dr. Ford Dye, says his father died at a hospice in Ridgeland.

78. Last Word: Inland and the Bus, Early Voting Shuffle and Multi-Family Moves - Monday, July 2, 2018

When City Hall announced last month that it was about time to rebid the sanitation contract Inland Waste has with the city, the mayor’s office went out of its way to say that Inland could be among the bidders for the contract serving about 35,000 households in Cordova and into East Memphis. Nevertheless, the company that owns Inland Waste didn’t like the tone of this and sent us an email accusing the Strickland administration of throwing it “under the bus.” And the administration hit back.

79. Trump Choice to Head IRS Says He’ll Work For All Taxpayers - Friday, June 29, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under sharp questioning from some Democratic senators, President Donald Trump's choice to head the IRS promised on Thursday to work for the benefit of ordinary taxpayers in administering the massive new tax law.

80. Senate Leaders Trade Barbed Words Over Supreme Court - Friday, June 29, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate battle over Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee is off to a fiery start — even before the president makes his choice. Republican and Democratic leaders traded accusations and barbed comments Thursday on the new vacancy, abortion rights and the debate to come.

81. Last Word: The View From Early Voting, Memfix 4 and Operation Keyboard - Thursday, June 28, 2018

Local Democrats made it formal Wednesday – taking complaints about the early voting sites and hours to the Shelby County Commission. The result is a special meeting Friday afternoon of the Shelby County Election Commission to talk about this. Meanwhile, the chairman of the local Republican party was just a few feet away from the Wednesday press conference by the Democrats at the county building. He says Democrats have it backwards, that the early voting sites favor Democrats.

82. DMC to Discuss Possible New Tax Incentives - Thursday, June 28, 2018

The Downtown Memphis Commission will explore the possibility of a new tax-incentive program during a Center City Revenue Finance Corp. policy committee meeting Friday, June 29.

Since many developers inquire about additional assistance beyond a standard PILOT (payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) abatement for infrastructure improvements, DMC staff is proposing the adoption of a site-specific tax increment financing arrangement.

83. McCormick: No Evidence of Any Scandal - Thursday, June 28, 2018

Mercurial Republican Rep. Gerald McCormick went from kicking ass to kicking back. Only three days after saying his now-former Democratic opponent, David Jones, would realize how little he has in common with District 26 in Chattanooga “when he gets his ass beat in November,” McCormick abruptly announced he would not seek re-election this year and would be leaving the House effective Oct. 1.

84. Justice Kennedy retiring; Trump gets 2nd Supreme Court pick - Thursday, June 28, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement Wednesday, giving President Donald Trump a golden chance to cement conservative control of the high court.

85. Events - Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Vaco Memphis holds its June continuing professional education seminar Wednesday, June 27, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Chickasaw Country Club, 3395 Galloway Ave. The seminar will cover digital finance trends, cybersecurity, a tax update and details on accounting standards updates. Admission is $75. Visit vacojune2018cpe.eventbrite.com for details.

86. Hot Housing Market: Now a ‘Great Time to Buy, Sell or Refinance’ - Wednesday, June 27, 2018

The average home sales price in May was $192,883, a 14 percent increase from $169,540 a year ago, according to real estate information company Chandler Reports, chandlerreports.com.

87. Events - Tuesday, June 26, 2018

The Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Awareness Foundation hosts “Reclaiming Joy Through Prevention and Healing” Tuesday, June 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the second-floor atrium of Crosstown Concourse, 1350 Concourse Ave. The event is a celebration of the foundation’s work and a welcome for new executive director Renée Wilson-Simmons. Admission is free, but registration is required. Visit aceawareness.org.

88. Events - Monday, June 25, 2018

The Voices of the South Writing Cabaret meets Monday, June 25, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at TheatreSouth, 1000 S. Cooper St. (in the First Congregational Church basement). At the start of the evening, participants receive a writing prompt and write for an hour, then everyone is given the opportunity to share what they have written. Cost is free; one drink minimum. Visit voicesofthesouth.org.

89. Fitch Upgrades Memphis’ Bond Rating to AA - Saturday, June 23, 2018

The city’s bond rating has been upgraded by Fitch Ratings to AA, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said Wednesday, June 20.

90. Events - Saturday, June 23, 2018

The Mid-South Transplant Foundation Ride for Life is Sunday, June 24, at 7 a.m. starting at Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. The ride is a 25-mile noncompetitive bike tour through East Memphis and Midtown designed to promote awareness about organ and tissue donation. Kids can also participate in a 1-mile fun ride. Visit midsouthtransplantrfl.racesonline.com for details and registration.

91. - Saturday, June 23, 2018

92. Fitch Upgrades City Bond Rating to AA - Friday, June 22, 2018

The city’s bond rating has been upgraded by Fitch Ratings to AA, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said Wednesday, June 20.

93. Arkansas court clears way for medical pot program's launch - Friday, June 22, 2018

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday cleared the way for the state to launch its medical marijuana program, reversing and dismissing a judge's ruling that prevented officials from issuing the first licenses for businesses to grow the drug.

94. Binghampton Apartments, Parkside TIF Get EDGE Greenlight - Thursday, June 21, 2018

Several hundred new apartments, a South Memphis grocery store and a new TIF district were all given the green light by the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County during a busy Wednesday, June 20, board meeting. 

95. - Thursday, June 21, 2018

96. New Grads, Unlock Your Future With a Credit Check-Up - Thursday, June 21, 2018

In college, establishing credit felt about as pressing as an optional homework assignment. But now that you've graduated, it's suddenly at the top of your summer to-do list, with a deadline of ASAP. And for good reason.

97. City Bond Rating Boosted to AA - Wednesday, June 20, 2018

The city’s bond rating has been upgraded by Fitch Ratings to AA, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said Wednesday, June 20.

98. Parkside Proposal - Wednesday, June 20, 2018

The developers of the proposed Parkside at Shelby Farms project have applied for a tax-increment financing (TIF) designation to fund nearly $72 million in public infrastructure improvements to the area, including the construction of Shelby Farms Parkway.

99. Duffy-Geiger Named CFO At Monogram Foods - Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Cheryl Duffy-Geiger has joined Monogram Foods as chief financial officer. In this role, Duffy-Geiger will be responsible for developing strategic business plans, partnering with operations and supply chain, building relationships with banking partners and overseeing accounting, among other duties. She joins Monogram from Kellogg Co., where she was chief financial officer for its largest global business unit, U.S. domestic snacks.

100. Last Word: County Budget Compromise, MEM After 5 Years and Elvis - Tuesday, June 19, 2018

There is nothing like the end of a term for those holding elected office. That’s what gets most of the credit for the Shelby County commission’s smooth ending to its budget season Monday. A final reading of the revised county property tax rate of $4.05 still awaits. But the commission went a long way toward locking that in with the approval of everything else at the Monday session.