Memphis has always been a city defined by grit. We know what it means to work hard, to navigate uncertainty and to keep moving forward even when the odds are stacked against us.

That resilience is one of our greatest competitive advantages.

When we talk about building a strong regional economy, the most effective strategy isn’t chasing the next silver bullet. It’s investing consistently and intentionally in the people who are already here, turning ideas into action every day.

A city built on grit and innovation

Entrepreneurship has always been part of Memphis’ story. Forbes recently named four Memphians among the 250 greatest innovators in American history, a reminder that world-changing ideas can start right here in our city.

From Clarence Saunders revolutionizing grocery retail with Piggly Wiggly, to Kemmons Wilson reshaping lodging with Holiday Inn, to Fred Smith launching FedEx and redefining global logistics, this city has produced innovators who built industries.

That legacy continues today. Memphis is home to a robust and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem, including more than 55,000 Black-owned businesses. It is also the only major U.S. city where women own more small businesses than men, with a female-to-male ownership ratio of 1.01 to 1.

These points of pride represent enormous economic potential.

Entrepreneurs as a regional advantage

Local entrepreneurs are the individuals who turn ideas into action. They create jobs, circulate dollars locally, activate commercial corridors and strengthen neighborhoods from the inside out. When a neighborhood business succeeds, that achievement ripples outward to families, suppliers and community identity in ways no external investment can replicate.

The most successful regions don’t treat entrepreneurship as a side project. They treat it as core infrastructure, building coordinated systems that support founders at every stage of development. That means helping them access the capital they need, connect to coaching and mentorship, reach customers and plug into networks that reinforce learning and momentum.

Memphis is doing that work today, creating pathways that make it easier to move from idea to launch, from launch to growth and from growth to scale. Aligning these pathways is essential to ensuring that advancement is not the exception, but the expectation.

A diverse ecosystem with national significance

Across Memphis and Shelby County, entrepreneurs have a broad network designed to meet them where they are. Early-stage founders can find guidance to refine ideas, build business plans and gain confidence. Expanding businesses can tap into mentorship, technical assistance and sector-specific expertise. Established companies can obtain networks that open doors to new markets, partnerships and customers. Public and private partners work together to align capital, incentives and place-based investment so that businesses can develop sustainably without leaving the communities they serve.

This layered approach – facilitating learning, growth, connection and investment – equips Memphis with an infrastructure that impacts our region and beyond.

Why coordination matters

These efforts work best when they’re coordinated, when entrepreneurs can see the full landscape of support and know where to turn next. That’s the vision behind Entrepreneurship City – making sure innovators know their resources, can access them and don’t have to navigate the system alone.

Local entrepreneurs create jobs that are rooted in place and resistant to outsourcing. Connected directly to our city, they reinvest in their communities and build companies that reflect Memphis’ character, culture and values.

Our diversity is also a strategic advantage. When we invest in a broad range of founders, we surface new ideas, identify emerging markets and stay ahead of changing consumer and workforce trends.

As these businesses expand, they elevate Memphis and Shelby County not only as centers of logistics and manufacturing, but as places where innovation is informed by real people and real opportunities.

A strategy for long-term growth

Investing in entrepreneurs also strengthens our ability to attract larger employers. Regions with strong small business ecosystems are more resilient, more adaptable and more attractive to outside investment. Large companies want to locate in places with vibrant local economies, skilled talent and a culture of innovation. Assisting founders helps create exactly that environment.

Memphis has never lacked ideas. What we need, and what we’re building, is the infrastructure to turn those ideas into lasting impact. If we want a stronger Memphis, we have to invest in local entrepreneurs, support their growth and let our people lead the next chapter of this city’s story.

Dr. Joann Massey is president & CEO of the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis & Shelby County (EDGE).

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: With support, Memphis’ entrepreneurs boost the whole region | Opinion