Economy and Jobs

Creating good-paying jobs and building a fair, resilient economy are central priorities for Congressman Cohen. As a Member of Congress, he works to ensure that federal policy and investments strengthen the middle and working class, support small businesses, and provide economic security for families, seniors, and the most vulnerable members of our community. That means making smart budget choices, protecting critical programs, and investing directly in job creation, workforce development, and local entrepreneurship in Memphis and Tennessee’s Ninth District.

Investing in Jobs, Opportunity, and Economic Security

One of the core responsibilities of Congress is determining how taxpayer dollars are invested. Congressman Cohen works to ensure that funding decisions support job creation, economic opportunity, and long-term stability for Memphis and communities across TN-09.

He prioritizes investments that strengthen the foundation of the economy, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), nutrition assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, medical research, and other critical services that help working families and seniors stay healthy, secure, and financially stable. He has consistently voted to protect funding for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to ensure these programs remain solvent for future generations.

Congressman Cohen opposed President Trump’s so-called “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” which slashed core economic and health programs while delivering massive tax breaks to the wealthy and adding trillions to the national debt. The bill:

Cut over $1.1 trillion from Medicaid and the ACA, resulting in at least 17 million Americans losing health coverage.
Slashed SNAP by more than $190 billion, the largest cut in the program’s history.
Put hospitals, nursing homes, and community health centers at risk by reducing Medicaid funding.
Eliminated clean energy tax credits for homeowners and small businesses, raised energy costs, and reversed progress on climate resilience.
Delivered enormous tax breaks to billionaires and large corporations, including companies that ship jobs overseas or replace workers with AI.
Added $4 trillion to the national debt, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

In contrast, Congressman Cohen has supported budgets that prioritize job creation, public investment, fiscal responsibility, and tax fairness. He supported the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered prescription drug and health care costs, made historic investments in clean energy and domestic manufacturing, created new jobs, strengthened energy security, and reduced the deficit by ensuring that large corporations and the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share.

Supporting Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Small businesses are the backbone of Memphis’ economy. They employ thousands of Memphians, drive innovation, and create the majority of new jobs. Congressman Cohen is committed to ensuring that entrepreneurs—especially minority-owned, women-owned, and first-generation businesses—have access to the tools and resources they need to grow and succeed.

The federal government is one of the largest purchasers of goods and services in the world, awarding billions of dollars in contracts each year. Congressman Cohen has worked to expand access to these opportunities by hosting an annual Federal Procurement Fair, bringing agencies such as the Small Business Administration, Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, Minority Business Development Agency, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development directly to local business owners. These fairs help entrepreneurs understand the federal contracting process and compete for federal resources.

To participate in Congressman Cohen’s annual Federal Procurement Fair, click here to contact his office.

The Tennessee Minority Business Development Center

After a three-year effort, Congressman Cohen helped establish Tennessee’s first Minority Business Development Center in Memphis in 2012, expanding access to federal resources for minority- and women-owned businesses. The center supports entrepreneurs through business counseling, contracting assistance, and connections to capital—helping local firms grow, create jobs, and compete in regional and national markets.

Workforce Development and Career Pathways

Supporting small businesses also means investing in the workforce that powers them. Congressman Cohen strongly supports federal apprenticeship and workforce development programs that prepare Memphians for in-demand careers in fields such as aviation, advanced manufacturing, logistics, clean energy, health care, and technology. These programs help workers earn industry-recognized credentials and access stable, well-paying jobs.

He has also secured significant Community Project Funding for local organizations that strengthen Memphis’ workforce and small business ecosystem, including:

Nonprofits providing tech training, coding education, and workforce pipelines for high-demand careers.
Startup incubators and small business accelerators offering mentorship, business development assistance, and access to capital.
Community-based workforce organizations that connect residents with employers and long-term career opportunities.

Building an Economy That Works for Memphis

Memphis succeeds when its workers and small businesses succeed. Congressman Cohen remains committed to strengthening the local economy through responsible budgeting, fair tax policy, workforce investment, and targeted support for entrepreneurs—so that growth is shared, opportunity is expanded, and the economy works for everyone in Tennessee’s Ninth District.

A key part of that work has been securing major federal investments that create jobs and strengthen Memphis’s role as a global logistics and transportation hub. Through bipartisan infrastructure laws, annual appropriations, and his long service on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Cohen has helped deliver funding that supports thousands of local jobs and long-term economic growth, including:

$393.7 million to build a new Interstate 55 bridge over the Mississippi River, the largest infrastructure investment in Tennessee history
Federal funding for Memphis International Airport modernization and safety improvements
Investments in MATA transit upgrades and electric bus expansion
Port of Memphis freight and infrastructure enhancements
Army Corps of Engineers projects to strengthen the Mississippi River waterfront
Roadway safety and Complete Streets projects that reduce crashes and improve neighborhood access.

These investments strengthen supply chains, support skilled construction and logistics jobs, improve safety and mobility, and help ensure Memphis remains a national leader in transportation, commerce, and economic opportunity.