Thanks to a new grant, the Memphis Library Foundation will be able to further aid in workforce development by helping residents grow in fields such as entrepreneurship, culinary arts, and digital media. This is all part of the foundation’s Innovator-in-Residence program, which will expand as a result of funds from Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD).
Today, foundation officials announced they received a $300,000 grant from the department. This represents a portion of $167 million in grants TNECD has allocated across Tennessee for workforce advancement.
“This two-year grant will specifically enable the Foundation to expand upon successful Memphis Public Libraries programs and offer additional resources, expertise, and training to local community members seeking to enhance their digital skills and workforce development opportunities,” Memphis Library Foundation officials said in a statement.
As participants work to sharpen their skills, the program will connect them with professionals such as podcasters, chefs, lawyers, and more, who will help them “monetize their talents” while also contributing to growth in the city.
The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Industry Report 2024 by the Greater Memphis Chamber and Greater Memphis Economic Research Group found that as of 2021, small businesses accounted for 98.9 percent of businesses in the area.
“By providing access to professional guidance and resources, we aim to create a robust network of aspiring entrepreneurs, contributing to the overall economic growth in our city,” Christine Weinreich, executive director of Memphis Library Foundation, said.
Memphis has been referred to as a “hotbed for entrepreneurship” by Epicenter Memphis. The organization said the city has an advantage over places like San Francisco and New York, which tend to show “startup saturation.”
The Urban Libraries Council noted the opportunities this Innovators-in-Residence program opens to the city — specifically to African-American communities the library serves.
“Memphis Public Libraries provides access to resources, opportunity, and hope,” the Urban Libraries Council said. “Cossitt Library serves Downtown, where 52 percent of residents are African American and 14 percent live in poverty. The area faces economic disparities, with wealthy neighborhoods near some of the poorest. Raleigh Library patrons are 76 percent African American, and 26 percent live in poverty.”
The program is tailored to the offerings of each library branch. Cossitt Library was home to the initial pilot of the initiative, which led to Ena Esco’s podcast, Verbally Effective. Weinreich said the grant will allow them to expand to five different innovators as opposed to one.
Other libraries will be involved in the program, including Raleigh Library, which houses an “on-site kitchen” where they will focus on culinary skills and development. Officials said they plan to bring in local chefs to help advise participants on how to secure funding for a business and how to manage restaurants.
