NASHVILLE, TN — A new Tennessee law effective July 1 has led the city of Memphis and Shelby County to dismantle its Minority and Women Business Enterprise programs, ending long-standing support that helped women- and minority-owned businesses secure government contracts and resources. NBC affiliate Action News 5 reports the new Dismantling DEI Departments Act bans any government programs offering preference based on race, sex or ethnicity, including MWBE. “It can be very disappointing, it can be very overwhelming,” said Sherrye Smith, a Memphis-based business owner and mentor, told the news station. “But as a business owner, we’ve hit roadblocks before.”…
