One of the elements making the 227,000-square-foot Memphis Sports and Event Center (MSEC) in Liberty Park unique is the number of minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) involved in the $57 million project.

The general contractor over the complex development is Turner Construction Co. According to figures from the City of Memphis, as of May 2022, Turner’s spending had hit 45% with minority business enterprises (MBEs) and 3.9% with women business enterprises (WBE).

The official spend goal set by the City in August 2019 for the construction of the MSEC was 38% MBEs and 5% WBEs. Turner Construction pledged 41% with MBE and 2.4% with WBE subcontractors, based on the bids they received.

As of May, actual expenditures on the entire Liberty Park project totaled $42.2 million, while eligible expenditures totaled $36.5 million — with a 48% MWBE spend totaling $17.5 million.

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