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Courage to Fight. Vision to Lead.
Commitment to Deliver.

policy

Purpose: Funding education is one of the most important functions of Shelby County government. What makes us special is that we are one County with lots of unique educational opportunities. Shelby County has some great schools, leaders, and educators. We don’t need national experts. We have everything we need right here at home to elevate every student into the future. We will establish new school oversight and accountability measures, support student growth, and prioritize educators. Our goal is to be a model for educational success for the entire state of Tennessee.  

 

Maximize Investment in Education

  1. Increase the base pay for teachers to better support and retain educators.
  2. Appoint a Director of Education to ensure full and complete collaboration and accountability between our municipal school boards and Shelby County Government.
  3. Work in tandem with the Shelby County Commission to establish new oversight and accountability measures for all educational budget allocations.
  4. Fund investments in innovative vocational training and entrepreneurship programs that prepare the emerging workforce and future business leaders to thrive in a modernized and more technical work environment. 
  5.  Prioritize educators who apply to receive a student loan forgiveness grant through the Shelby County Talent Return & Retention Initiative 

 

County Education Partnership Initiative

  1. Build a community of good corporate citizens by incentivizing and mandating investment in schools from those seeking PILOTS, through a reimagined school adoption initiative. This will allow community partners to directly invest in school infrastructure and improvement needs, using an adopt-a-school improvement dashboard that contains projects identified by municipal school districts within Shelby County. 
  2. Develop a new grant program that directs funding to community partners and Shelby County municipalities with programming that incorporates Social Emotional Learning, Financial Literacy, Interpersonal Skill Development, Mental Health, and Youth Workforce Readiness.

 

Wraparound and Support Services

  1. Develop a partnership between the municipal school districts within Shelby County and the Shelby County Health Department to provide onsite health services with a focus on mental health.
  2. Provide the requisite funding for all school municipalities to provide trauma informed training for resource officers and key personnel.
  3. Expand funding for free and reduced lunch and establish an evening nutrition initiative to provide after school meals to students facing hardship. This will help ensure that hunger is not a hindrance for any student in Shelby County.

 

Book Buddies Literacy Initiative 

  1. Whole Family, Whole Community Literacy:
    • Increase literacy rates by engaging children, parents, caregivers, seniors, and community volunteers together making reading a shared household and neighborhood practice, not just a school activity. Sponsor neighborhood reading nights at local venues and establish book club hangouts throughout the county.
  2. Book Access & Reading Relationships:
    • Pair students with trained “Book Buddies” from the community and ensure consistent access to age-appropriate books through schools, libraries, and neighborhood hubs to build daily reading habits and positive reading relationships. Create a telereading program for Book Buddies to read together.
  3. Early Intervention
    • Focus on early-grade literacy while supporting continued reading development through tutoring, mentorship, and literacy-rich environments that follow students from early childhood through adolescence. Support and help scale programs such as the Shelby County Early Literacy Plan (SCELP).

Purpose: To build a safer Shelby County by treating public safety as a shared, countywide responsibility, one that breaks down artificial jurisdictional lines, upholds human dignity at every stage of the justice system, and replaces cycles of harm with pathways of stability. This policy commits to humane corrections, coordinated law enforcement, and a re-entry system that leads with stability, accountability, and opportunity; ensuring that people returning home are given the tools to rebuild their lives, contribute to their communities, and strengthen the county’s workforce and future.

 

Eliminating the Imaginary Line

  1. Convene regional, state, and federal law enforcement partners to develop best practices for increased vigilance and response times across Shelby County by expanding patrol routes into neighboring communities.
  2. Prevent gaps in emergency response by establishing a unified governance structure and interoperability design that standardizes how agencies communicate across jurisdictions.

 

Corrections Resources 

  1. We must ensure that from intake to release the process and systems that guide corrections operations are adequately resourced and regularly assessed to ensure humanity is at the forefront of incarceration. 
  2. Provide adequate funding to ensure the proper resources are allocated to address staffing needs and necessary systems and process improvements to reduce intake times.
  3. Understand the actual role that the Mayor’s office has in corrections. Foster collaboration between the Shelby County Health Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s office to support the SCSO’s desire to strengthen and streamline onsite medical evaluations and medical services for inmates.
  4. Work in conjunction with the Shelby County Commission to secure and allocate funding for improvements or the construction of a new jail. 

 

Re-entry + Renewal

  1. Pre-Release to Paycheck Pipeline (Starts Before Release)
    • Participants are enrolled 90–180 days before release, not after. Shelby County becomes the employer of last resort for a defined transition period (6–12 months) if participants aren’t matched: While still incarcerated, they receive:
      •  Job matching with pre-approved employers
      • Industry-recognized credentials (construction, logistics, healthcare support, IT, manufacturing)
      • Digital IDs, resumes, and bank account setup
    • Every participant leaves custody with a confirmed job start date or paid apprenticeship placement. If a participant is paired with a Shelby job they will work on county projects, Regional One support services, infrastructure, housing rehab, or sanitation initiatives
      • Wages are earned immediately
      • Performance unlocks private-sector placement
    • This removes the “no one will hire me” barrier entirely.
  1. Legal Reset & Record Relief Track
    • Re-entry + Renewal will include a built-in legal renewal pathway:
      • Automatic screening for expungement, record sealing, and rights restoration
      • On-site legal clinics and fee waivers
      • County advocacy with courts for compliant participants
    • Legal relief is tied to program completion and conduct, not left to chance.
  1. Employer Risk Shield & Incentives
    • To bring employers in at scale, the county will provide:
      • Wage subsidies and insurance protections
      • Performance-based tax credits
      • Priority access to county contracts
    • Hiring participants becomes a smart business decision.

Purpose: To ensure that every Shelby County resident has access to affordable, preventive, and primary healthcare services regardless of income, employment status, or neighborhood so preventable illnesses are addressed early and health outcomes improve countywide; while sustaining and strengthening Regional One Health as the region’s essential trauma, safety-net, and specialty care institution. By investing in early care and fully supporting Regional One, the county can improve health outcomes, reduce preventable emergencies, respond to critical incidents, and make a responsible, long-term investment in the well-being and stability of the entire region.

 

Access to Affordable Healthcare

  1. The Shelby Health Access Plan (SHAP) pilot will be a county-led healthcare access initiative designed to provide affordable preventive and primary care services to uninsured residents of Shelby County. Through a low-cost fixed monthly payment that will not exceed $60, SHAP will expand access to essential healthcare while reducing avoidable emergency room visits and long-term public health costs.
    • Access to doctors and healthcare providers at county health department clinics, partner community clinics and participating private healthcare providers.
    • Virtual telehealth services, including primary care consultations and follow-ups.
    • Preventive services such as annual wellness visits, screenings, immunizations, and basic chronic disease management
    • Enrollment will be limited to Shelby County residents without active health insurance coverage.
    • SHAP will also allow us to expand the number of Shelby County Health Department clinics and incorporate a 24-hour urgent care model at selected clinics.

 

Strengthening Regional One 

  1. Stabilize and Deliver the New Regional One Campus Without Compromising Current Care
    • We must ensure the new Regional One hospital is delivered on time, on budget, with support from the state and without weakening lifesaving services at the existing facility. This requires a multi-year funding plan, strict cost controls, and an operational stabilization strategy that protects staffing, trauma readiness, and patient access during construction. The new campus cannot come at the expense of today’s Regional One, public safety depends on both. 
  1. Reimagine Regional One as a Modern Academic and Innovation Medical Center
    • The new facility must represent a transformation, not a relocation. Regional One should be reimagined as a regional academic and innovation hub integrated with UTHSC, research partners, and advanced training programs. This means expanding specialty care, investing in digital health and data systems, and positioning Regional One as a leader in trauma, maternal health, behavioral health, and complex care. A reimagined Regional One strengthens workforce pipelines, attracts top talent, and elevates Memphis as a healthcare destination.
  1. Uncouple Regional One From Being the Default Provider for Preventable Care
    • Regional One cannot continue to function as the region’s primary provider for preventable and non-emergency care. SHAP helps to create a system-wide shift that expands community clinics, telehealth, and preventive care programs redirecting non-emergency patients before they reach the ER. By reducing avoidable demand, Regional One can focus on what it does best: high-acuity, lifesaving care. Uncoupling the hospital from systemic gaps is essential for long-term sustainability.

Purpose: To create a unified, federally leveraged regional transit system that connects people to jobs, healthcare, education, and housing across Shelby County by aligning municipalities, public agencies, and private employers around a modern, reliable mobility network that strengthens economic growth, expands opportunity, and reduces long-term infrastructure costs.

 

Regional Transit Authority

Work with each municipality to develop an intergovernmental agreement to establish a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) to eliminate fragmentation and unlock federal funding. Current MATA facilities and assets can serve as the foundation for the new RTA. The board should be composed of Memphis, which currently has the largest rider share, suburban municipalities, Shelby County government, and non-voting advisory members including major employers, healthcare organizations, and logistics partners. This approach will create a federal funding first approach with FTA Capital Investment Grants, USDOT RAISE grants, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) programs, allowing local dollars to be used secondary. 

Build a High-Capacity Regional Transit Spine with Local Flexibility

Develop Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) first because it is faster, cheaper, and scalable with the greatest impact. The early focus of regional transit must be dedicated public transit lanes, signal priority, with every municipality getting high-frequency connectors to the spine, first-mile / last-mile service, park-and-ride hubs. This allows suburbs to participate without running their own systems. A federally Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) spine must serve as the backbone of the regional system, supported by mobility hubs that integrate fixed-route service with microtransit, employer shuttles, paratransit, and active transportation. This approach delivers fast, reliable service where demand is highest while allowing flexible, cost-effective connections for municipalities and job centers.

Align Transit with Economic Development, Housing, and Jobs

In Shelby County we must use transit investment zones and targeted incentives to concentrate affordable housing, workforce housing, and job growth around major corridors and mobility hubs. Partner with employers to guarantee shift-based transit access, reduce parking costs, and improve workforce reliability, positioning transit as an economic development tool rather than a standalone service.

Light Rail and Beyond

In order for Shelby County to become the next region in the south to experience rapid economic growth and expansion we must take the leap forward to explore the feasibility of light rail installation or other innovative forms of public transit to meet the demands of connecting every municipality across Shelby County.

Purpose: Shelby County’s economic vitality hinges on a strong, growing tax base that reinvests in Shelby County by expanding opportunity, strengthening local businesses and our work force while ensuring residents can live, work, and thrive in the communities they serve. We must be laser focused on closing the wealth gap and creating a ladder to economic opportunity for every citizen. 

 

Shelby County Small Business Accelerator & Revenue Growth Initiative

  1. This initiative treats small businesses as economic engines, not charity cases. By tying incentives to growth, formalization, and revenue, Shelby County will invest in businesses that reinvest back, strengthening the tax base and creating a self-sustaining cycle of economic opportunity. The county-backed accelerator will focus on revenue growth, compliance, and longevity, targeting startups and small businesses that are already operating but stuck at the “survival” stage. The program will prioritize businesses with the potential to hire, expand, and contribute meaningfully to the local tax base within 12–24 months. This initiative is designed to:
    • Increase small business revenue and survival rates
    • Increase job creation in historically underserved communities
    • Expand the commercial tax base without raising tax rates
    • Create stronger local supply chains serving public and private institutions

 

Affordable Housing and Homeownership Empowerment

  1. The Shelby County government will partner with municipal housing offices throughout Shelby County, local community organizations, and developers to eliminate blight while also deploying a County-Backed Equity Path Homeownership initiative.
    • Shelby County will seek development partnerships on tax-abated or distressed properties through the Shelby County Land Bank
    • Homes under this program will be renovated by local developers using county incentives
    • Residents eligible for this program will enter through a lease-to-equity or shared-equity structure
    • Monthly payments will build real ownership equity, not interest
    • After a defined period of 5–7 years, residents convert to full ownership at a predetermined, affordable price
  1. Request that EDGE focuses on Affordable Housing Innovation Incentives
    • Prioritize projects that produce for-sale affordable units, not just rentals
    • Offer enhanced PILOTs, tax credits, or fee waivers for developers meeting affordability and ownership targets
    • Tie incentives to long-term affordability covenants and local hiring

 

Workforce Development

  1. Shelby County Talent Return & Retention Initiative
    • Through a competitive student loan forgiveness grant program, Shelby County will reward young professionals who return home or choose to stay and work in the county after completing their education. Grants will be tied to service and employment commitments in high-demand fields, ensuring the county retains skilled talent while strengthening its tax base and workforce capacity. This initiative positions Shelby County as a place where education is valued and staying home is economically rewarding.
  1. Countywide Vocational Training & Skills Pipeline Program
    • Shelby County will expand and support vocational and technical training through partnerships with educational institutions, nonprofits, unions, and employers. Programs will be aligned with the business recruitment and workforce needs identified by the Chamber of Commerce and EDGE, ensuring training leads directly to jobs. This initiative will guarantee that residents of all ages have access to skills-based training in high-growth sectors, creating a reliable pipeline of workers while opening doors to economic mobility.
  1. Shelby County Paid Experience & Career Launch Initiative
    • Shelby County will partner with local businesses to pilot a paid experience program that places residents into paid apprenticeships, fellowships, and on-the-job training roles with local employers, government agencies, healthcare systems, and small businesses. Too many residents are locked out of opportunity not because they lack ability, but because they lack “experience.” This initiative removes that barrier by subsidizing wages during the training period, allowing employers to hire and train talent without assuming all the risk. The program will prioritize high-demand sectors and ensure participants earn while they learn, with clear pathways to permanent employment. By converting training into real work experience, Shelby County accelerates career entry, increases retention, and creates a workforce that is job-ready on day one.
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