One can tell what the leading area public University of Memphis Board of Trustees cares about as an area economic development partner based on their local legislative activity and partnerships. The Board of Trustees cares about their Highland TIF, pool renovation, partnership with EDGE and hanging out with Orrin Ingram while stifling small business.
What the U of M Board DOES NOT CARE about is: 1) advocating for their Amazon road map and a measurable definition for economic development 2) expediting connected workforce development for a community in need, 3) bogus projection accounting justifying excessive incentives for corporate/real estate interests, 4) fee revenue for abating boards incenting them to award larger incentives for corporate/real estate interest, 5) maintaining their peer city research standards as a public resource to facilitate objective economic development measurement and 6) investigative journalism that questions real power.