“Strong small businesses make strong communities,” says Carolyn Cawley, president of the U.S. Chamber Foundation.

“Memphis Medical District Collaborative is excited about the partnership with Proof Incubator,” says Rhonda Brown, Economic Development Program Manager with the MMDC. "The resources and tools provided through the Accelerator will assist any restaurant owner from growth and development to maturity to have the confidence to make the vital decisions to have a successful and sustainable restaurant."

Derravia and Bobby Rich started Black Seeds Urban Farms in 2021. It has grown into a successful business, providing fresh fruits and vegetables from the earth in a location that was recently a food desert. There's much more to come.

“This opportunity can make the difference for educators and students as they incorporate 21st-century skills and real-world problem-solving. It is a privilege to work with this partnership year after year and continue to serve the incredible educators of the Tennessee Valley,” says Gretchen Brown, operations director at Battelle.

“The need for accessible, affordable mental health care is more apparent than ever, and we are looking forward to serving the greater Memphis community,” says MHC CEO Pam Womack.

“A high-capacity, responsive, and agile local workforce ecosystem is critical to increasing the chances of sustainable and equitable economic recovery,” says Sheila Maguire, Senior Fellow with the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program. “The Academy provides leaders with the rare opportunity to think and act strategically across siloes to advance outcomes for workers and businesses.”

Slingshot Memphis, an innovative nonprofit fighting poverty in new and creative ways, is supplying community members with tools and resources that get more mileage out of their end-of-year-gifts this holiday season. These new resources are enhancing and taking poverty-fighting philanthropy efforts to new heights.