BlueOval Good Neighbors Push for Legally Binding Agreement with Ford on $5.6B Campus

This article provides an update on the ongoing efforts of the BlueOval Good Neighbors group to secure a legally binding community benefits agreement with Ford Motor Co. for its $5.6 billion BlueOval City electric truck and battery campus in Haywood County, Tennessee.

Although Ford has launched its voluntary Good Neighbor Plan, which includes a $9 million investment in the community, BlueOval Good Neighbors is pushing for stronger, legally enforceable commitments to address issues such as affordable housing, workforce development, environmental protections, and support for Black-led community organizations.

The group, made up of local residents, labor organizations like the United Auto Workers, and advocacy groups like Tennessee For All, argues that without concrete and binding commitments, the growing impact of the new campus may harm already vulnerable communities.

Ford’s Good Neighbor Plan, while not legally binding, focuses on investments in areas such as local workforce development, environmental monitoring, youth programs, and infrastructure. The plan is designed to address concerns from local residents, particularly in predominantly Black communities with low incomes.

Ford has emphasized its ongoing engagement with community members, with plans for further investments over the next 12 to 18 months.

BlueOval Good Neighbors’ proposed demands for a legally binding agreement include local hiring commitments, affordable housing access, environmental protections, and funding for Black-led community organizations. Ford’s representatives, like Gabby Bruno, have highlighted the company’s focus on listening to community feedback and creating a plan that reflects local needs.

Support for the Good Neighbor Plan is evident among some community leaders, such as Brownsville Mayor Bill Rawls and Emma Covington, co-chair of the Equitable Growth Advisory Council. These leaders believe that the plan addresses important community needs and ensures that Ford remains accountable to its commitments as the campus development progresses.

In summary, while Ford is taking steps to invest in the community, BlueOval Good Neighbors remains focused on ensuring that these investments are backed by formal, legally enforceable agreements to safeguard the long-term interests of the region’s residents.

 

Leave a Comment