Shelby County is making a historic investment in healthcare with a $500 million commitment to help build a new Regional One Health (ROH) campus in Downtown Memphis, securing the future of the county’s only public hospital for generations to come.
The plans were announced on Monday, Sept. 29, revealing that the new campus will be built on the site of the former Commercial Appeal building on Union Avenue. The new campus will modernize the hospital system, expand access to care, and better meet the needs of the community.
Planning for the new campus is expected to take 18 to 24 months, with construction beginning once a final plan is approved. The full buildout of the campus is projected to take at least four years once construction starts.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris called the investment a major milestone for both healthcare and economic development in Memphis. In addition to strengthening the region’s healthcare infrastructure, Harris said the project presents an opportunity to revitalize the surrounding Downtown area, including the Beale Street corridor.
“You’ll see all those buildings come back online,” Harris said. “You’ll see life return to that important connector and gateway to downtown.”
Regional One Health officials estimate the expansion will generate significant economic impact, including approximately $37 million in state tax revenue, 3,600 construction jobs, and 2,300 secondary jobs.
