Ford now needs to secure an environmental permit before moving forward with site work at its planned $5.6 billion electric vehicle plant in West Tennessee.

“This couldn’t be a more transformative project,” says Aaron Stewart. “The suppliers are already looking. ...”

“We’re looking for technical, we’re looking for operational, we’re looking for lean and professional behaviors when we think about that ideal worker of the future,” said Liliana Ramirez, Ford’s workforce development director.

Demand for the F-150 Lightning will be crucial to Ford’s planned operations in West Tennessee. 

Site work at Blue Oval City could begin as early as March 15, and local officials say Shelby County is poised to be an electric vehicle hub “if we dare to dream big enough.” 

Related stories:

Ford, ready to grow workforce, begins to recruit eighth-graders

Ford will run EV business separately as Ford Blue

HTL’s Mark Herbison visits Fayette County to speak about Blue Oval City

As electric vehicle footprint director and project manager of Blue Oval City, Greg Christensen will be tasked with helping the iconic brand transition into the era of EV. 

Mark Herbison, who was instrumental in the work associated with the megasite, said they weren’t willing to accept just any project for the location.

“Overall budget is holding in spite of market conditions but we have a long way to go,” Megasite CEO Clay Bright said.

Industry leaders covered everything industrial, office and retail, and two of the region’s top economic development experts talked Ford and its unprecedented planned development. 

What’s the difference between “card check” and a secret-ballot vote? Perhaps the unionization of the mammoth Blue Oval City that Ford Motor Co. plans to build just east of Memphis.

The technology matters. The capacity matters. But more than anything else, auto manufacturers understand they will only be as good as the training and workers with hands-on new gas-powered and electric vehicles. 

Communities leaders jostling to attract vehicle manufacturers say the companies and their high-paying jobs can change citizens’ lives. But some critics say the cost is too great. 

Ford’s plans for a $5.6 billion auto plant campus with 6,000 workers has turned the spotlight on Haywood County property owners. 

Stanton has lost population, the income is low and its Downtown is gone, but a can-do mayor and a boost from Blue Oval City seem likely to change the town’s luck.

Blue Oval City’s 3,600 acres will include space for a supplier park. Still, state officials anticipate some suppliers locating near the Megasite of West Tennessee.

They had their doubters, but leaders from three counties in the Tupelo, Mississippi, area believed in their vision for rebooting the local economy. 

“We’re not just an auto town. It’s an important part of the community, but not that big gorilla,” said Chris Ziegler, who worked 31 years at GM, almost 28 of them for Saturn and GM in Spring Hill. 

Once an outdated manufacturing and steel town, Chattanooga went to work on reinventing itself by taking advantage of its riverfront and Downtown. In the end, that was key to landing automaker Volkswagen and spurring a new generation of growth. 

The Daily Memphian launches a special project looking at the recruitment and impact of Ford Motor Co.’s project at the Megasite of West Tennessee, beginning today with the first of three stories examining partnerships between communities and auto manufacturers.

Memphis Regional Megasite of West Tennessee: The Haywood County site no longer includes a reference to the city of Memphis. Now, it’s officially the Megasite of West Tennessee.

Gov. Bill Lee names Charlie Tuggle, executive vice president and general counsel for First Horizon National, and Tipton County Mayor Jeff Huffman to the Megasite Authority of West Tennessee.

Clay Bright will head operation and development of the Haywood County Megasite. He has been the Tennessee Transportation Commissioner since 2019.