In rural West Tennessee, Ford is investing more than $5.6 billion in a new electric vehicle assembly plant called BlueOval City. Spanning six square miles and expected to create over 6,000 jobs, it’s being hailed as the most modern automotive facility since Ford pioneered the assembly line. But perhaps the most transformative element isn’t the plant itself—it’s a 3,600-square-foot former schoolhouse in the nearby town of Stanton. Once a segregated community school, the building sat abandoned for decades. Now, after more than 2,500 hours of community meetings, it’s being reborn as the Ford Community Center, offering job training, financial literacy, healthcare access, and legal services. “It’s a front door for helping people who wish to participate in the rising tide of BlueOval City,” says consultant Josh McManus. He adds, “What you find very fast is there are a lot of lifelong residents in the area who, because there’s been next to no economic activity there for a long time, are in need of hard skills and soft skills.” This center shows how corporate investment can truly serve its neighbors.
Link to Article