In response to the growing blighted conditions in Memphis, on November 3, 2015, City Council established the Blight Authority of Memphis, Inc. (BAM) under Tennessee's Local Land Bank Program (Tenn. Code Ann. §TCA 13-30). BAM is a quasi-governmental agency that exists to eliminate blight and restore the tax base through serving as the City of Memphis land bank. BAM works to reduce the occurrence of blight and its symptoms that threaten the security, stability, and growth of Memphis’ neighborhoods. By serving as an intermediary, BAM leverages its legislated powers for land banking to restore formerly vacant properties back into productive use, eliminate barriers to redevelopment, and encourage economic activity to take place throughout Memphis.