Recent News from MMDC
MMDC launches new healthcare career partnership with Memphis Shelby County Schools
April 26, 2022 — The Memphis Medical District Collaborative is pleased to announce a new partnership with Memphis-Shelby County Schools which aims to increase the healthcare talent pipeline and introduce graduating seniors to healthcare careers. Hire Local’s Career Launch Academy will offer a free, six-week Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification course, soft-skills training, and job shadowing experience to graduating seniors from MSCS schools.
‘We see the Medical District as the new frontier’
December 19, 2021 – MMDC's President Rory Thomas and community stakeholders share current and upcoming revitalization and development of the Medical District.
Memphis Medical District Collaborative receives $300,000 grant
December 1, 2021 – The Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC) is pleased to receive a $300,000 grant from The Kresge Foundation centered around building equity and prosperity through increased economic opportunities for BIPOC communities.
$30M Memphis Medical District Investment Fund Will Spur Inclusive Real Estate Development
July 19, 2021 – Pathway Lending and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC), in partnership with First Horizon, Regions Bank, Truist, The Kresge Foundation and The Hyde Family Foundation, today announced the launch of the Memphis Medical District Investment Fund, a $30 million capital fund dedicated to support development of residential and mixed-use projects in the Memphis Medical District.
MMDC selects Rory Thomas as new President
May 25, 2021 - We are pleased to announce the selection of Rory Thomas as the organization’s new President. An established leader in the Memphis community, Thomas brings a background in business and economic development coupled with extensive experience in finance, fundraising, and strategic planning. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center. Thomas becomes the second president of MMDC, selected from a nationwide pool of nearly 30 candidates. MMDC conducted the search over a four-month period after the passing of its inaugural president, Tommy Pacello.
How a Memphis medical district is connecting residents to living-wage jobs
May 4, 2021 - We are excited to share our recent feature on the Brookings Institute's blog series, "Placemaking Postcards," a publication of the Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking. More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, we have encountered many challenges (and learned many lessons) particularly with our place-based workforce development effort, Hire Local, during a time when medical workers are both desperately needed and doubly vulnerable. We hope these lessons may inform future place-based workforce development efforts designed to enhance equity and opportunity in the post-COVID-19 world. We are grateful to our anchor institution and community partners for our collaboration in advancing this work.
February Development + Business News
February 2020
Here’s What’s Happening in the Edge District Now
Local developer proposes $56M project on Union near Methodist
How URBN on Union came to be
Developer seeks incentive to transform vacant Poplar Ave. apartment complex
Uptown's Malone Park Move-In Ready Next Month
Uptown’s Malone Park Commons features an uncommonly social setting
Creativity and innovation founded Phillip Ashley Chocolates, then saved it
Phillip Ashley Chocolates has ridden a rollercoaster of a pandemic
New Eats: Slim and Husky’s
New on-demand public transit service Groove On-Demand launches in Memphis
February 4, 2020 - Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA), the Downtown Memphis Commission, and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative will launch Groove On-Demand, a dynamically-routed on-demand public transit service on February 10. In partnership with Via, the leader in TransitTech, Groove OnDemand will expand access to affordable, efficient, and convenient public transit for all riders in the greater Downtown Memphis area, including the Medical District and New Chicago
Press Release | Commercial Appeal | Fox 13 | Memphis Business Journal
MMDC Hires Abby Sheridan as New COO
December 20, 2020 - The Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC) today announced the hire of Abigail (Abby) Sheridan as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer. Sheridan brings 15 years of operations and finance experience working with local and national non-profits to the MMDC team. Most recently, Abby served as Deputy Director for the Congress for the New Urbanism, where she was responsible for implementing the strategy and managing the operations of a national nonprofit dedicated to championing the development of walkable, mixed-use urbanism. At MMDC, Sheridan will lead the operations of the organization as it embarks upon a new strategic plan. Sheridan will oversee financial management of the organization, and provide leadership and execution capacity for special projects, strategic planning, grant applications, and board relations. Abby brings a passion for people-centered communities to Memphis and looks forward to working with the MMDC staff, partners, and community to build a more vibrant and prosperous Medical District.
Updates from MMDC
November 17, 2020 - It is with great sadness that we announce that Tommy Pacello, President of the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, passed away on November 16th, 2020 due to complications from pancreatic cancer. The entire MMDC family and community mourns this tragic loss. On behalf of our Board of Directors, leadership team and employees, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family.
Memphis Medical District Collaborative awards $145,000 in emergency relief funding to Medical District small businesses
Monday, April 27, 2020 - The Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC) has awarded $145,000 in relief funding to 21 Medical District businesses through MMDC’s Small Business Emergency Assistance Fund. Of the recipients, 70% of the businesses are minority-owned and 33% are women-owned.
MMDC Launches New Public Art Grant
April 23, 2020 - MMDC is launching a new grant program to support Memphis-area creatives (visual artists, designers, etc.) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to receive concepts to be considered for future public art projects located in the Memphis Medical District.
MMDC Hires First Director of Real Estate; Receives $450,000 Grant from Kresge Foundation
November 19, 2019 - The Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC) announces the hire of Ben Schulman as the organization’s first director of real estate. Schulman has worked across urban planning, policy, real estate and architecture sectors. At MMDC, Schulman will manage and advance a portfolio of projects in the Memphis Medical District and connect area developers to the necessary financing incentives and organizational tools to bring projects to fruition.
Congress for the New Urbanism - Public Square: Healing a troubled medical district
Memphis Medical District demonstrates the power of anchor institutions to improve sense of place and the economy in surrounding neighborhoods, while avoiding displacement.