Memphis Fast Forward

Memphis Tomorrow, with the help of the Memphis City and Shelby County mayors, established a strategic plan to accelerate economic growth and improve the quality of life of the Memphis Region. Memphis Fast Forward is a collection of initiatives that address complex issues in five key areas: public safety, education, jobs, health and government efficiency. Each initiative is comprised of a cross-sector steering committee and is supported by a dedicated backbone organization that proactively engages diverse groups of people and organizations in planning and implementation.

The five initiatives of Memphis Fast Forward are:

1) PeopleFirst - building a competitive workforce for the new economy by strengthening education from early childhood through college attainment
2) Operation Safe Community - reducing crime through data-driven strategies for law enforcement and intervention
3) Growth Alliance - growing jobs and fostering expansion of key industry clusters
4) Healthy Shelby - improving community health and the patient experience of care while reducing the per capita cost of health care
5) Government Efficiency - promoting good stewardship of tax revenues, efficient operations, strategic investments and sound financial management

Memphis Fast Forward is the shared vision and unprecedented action plan to create good jobs, a better-educated workforce, a safer community, a healthier citizenry and efficient government in Memphis and Shelby County.

Major violent and property crime were reduced by 22.8% and 25.5%. The pool of high-potential teacher candidates increased from 21 to 1,800 in one year. More than 15,000 jobs were created. New capital investment of $4.2 billion was generated. Local governments saved more than $75 million.

Major violent and property crime were reduced by 22.8% and 25.5%, respectively. Business and bank robberies were down by 67.7% and 60.6%, respectively. Carjackings were reduced by 69.5%. The Memphis City Schools' new teacher recruitment partnership with The New Teacher Project increased the pool of high-potential teacher candidates from 21 in April 2010 to 1,800 in April 2011. Memphis City Schools expanded the number of students in pre-K by 50% from 2746 to 4120. More than 15,000 new jobs were created with an average annual wage of $39,943. New capital investment of $4.2 billion was generated. New minority business receipts of $576 million was generated. City and county government-executed efficiency strategies saved more than $75 million.