Germantown and Collierville are prepared for the array of opportunities Ford Motor Company’s Memphis Regional Megasite brings to the eastern portion of Shelby County.

Economic leaders in the region have closely watched the Haywood County site north of Interstate 40 for more than a decade, dreaming about its impact on the metro area, including suburbs like Collierville, Germantown and others.

“This has far-reaching impact and is transformational for our local economy,” Marie Lisco, Germantown economic manager said. “People have shown they will travel for jobs they value, and they will choose where they live accordingly too.”

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Lisco expects growth in both directions from of the site at Exit 42 and knows people who work there may “put down roots” in Germantown.

“Companies that could come as a result of Blue Oval City will have differing needs,” Lisco said.

Proximity is one benefit and Germantown can offer residents a 42-mile drive to the megasite. But businesses supporting Ford could also choose to locate in the suburb.

“It could be anything in terms of technology or some kind of a research company or logistics – any kind of supporting business function that will make this project a success,” she said, adding Germantown was “fully charged” and ready to work with regional partners.

John Duncan, Collierville economic development director, said the town is established to benefit from the site based on its “strategic location.”

“We don’t have to get ready for them,” he said. “We are ready.”

Collierville was showcased to Ford and its site selection team as part of what Shelby County has available for a major industry.

“I’m convinced that might have been what closed the deal,” Duncan said grinning.

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Collierville has about 1,200 acres of developable land, including 500 zoned for office and 400 for commercial – land Duncan expects to benefit from the site. There are another 300 acres for industrial use near Interstate 269, Tenn. 385 and U.S. 72, less than 40 minutes from Interstate 40’s Exit 42.

“I think we will have an opportunity to participate with office, district office, regional office, headquarters, people that need to be near their largest account,” Duncan said. “We already have a strong corporate community. I think we will add to that. Office users will want to be near Ford, and Collierville is the perfect market for an office user.”

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He also thinks the industrial land will benefit with logistics and suppliers, but he doesn’t expect “heavy-duty” manufacturing, although environmentally friendly manufacturing is possible.

“As we continue to grow our industrial market, population, we will naturally see more hotel, restaurant and services coming to town,” he said.

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Collierville and Germantown are two of four AAA-bond rated municipalities in Tennessee. That financial stability could also coax auxiliary industries to look at southeast Shelby County. 

“To a lot investors and developers, they want to be in communities that are stable, so I think we are going to get numerous opportunities,” Duncan said.

He added that the town is attractive with its municipal school system, Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville, amenities and infrastructure to support businesses Shelby County due to Ford.

The transportation time from Collierville to the Ford site is slightly less than Germantown because of the Interstate 269 leg from Collierville to Interstate 40. Navigating that expressway – the Winfield Dunn parkway – is easier than getting to Interstate 40 along the congested Germantown Parkway.

“Our proximity to assets makes us an attractive relocation and development option for a lot of industries,” Duncan said. “We can offer proximity to assets Ford is going to need to be successful.”