Chamber leadership met with media representatives in the Big Apple to discuss Memphis’ robust economic development pipeline, as well as the area’s workforce diversity.

Bartlett Mayor David Parsons says Bartlett’s housing stock is about to start showing some diversity. The recently elected mayor talked about a changing housing market and Bartlett’s first mixed-use development on “Behind The Headlines.”

Construction is expected to take two to three weeks. The gift from Ford will be at no cost to the district.

“Never in my life did I anticipate that there would be this happening in rural West Tennessee,” said Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. “Welcome to one of the most exciting days celebrating one of the most exciting events in this region.” 

Related story:

Ford to build next electric truck — Project T3 — at BlueOval City

By late 2026, Ford plans to produce 2 million electric vehicles annually across its global operations. 

Several mayors from West Tennessee had a discussion on Tuesday to get an idea for what is anticipated and the challenges they will face when BlueOval City moves into the region.

The real work is just starting for the municipalities within the impact crater of Ford Motor Co.’s new BlueOval City electric vehicle campus in Haywood County. How exactly are the surrounding communities going to react?

Collierville Chamber of Commerce hosted Neva Burke, BlueOval SK human resources manager, on Thursday. The evolving workforce post-pandemic is a challenge she must tackle moving forward.

Among the street names is Piquette Drive, a reference to the Piquette Plant in Detroit where the first Ford Model T was produced.

General Motors’ Memphis Parts Distribution Center, which was opened in 1999, ships 331,700 orders per month and employs 259 people.

Ford began the first phases of construction at BlueOval City during the past year, and the automaker has continued to expand its presence in West Tennessee. 

The Memphis market ranked No. 9 in the nation.

This will be Ford’s ninth mobility innovation challenge since 2018.

CEO Clay Bright also said there are two “potential gravesites” on Megasite grounds, totaling less than two acres, but provided no information about who might be buried there.

With the anticipated arrival of Ford’s BlueOval City to West Tennessee, the Arlington school district is working on a curriculum to better prepare students for those type jobs.

The suburb’s quality of life was part of the pitch made to Ford and SK innovation before they chose to invest in the Megasite of West Tennessee.

Representatives of Ford Motor Co. held a panel in Jackson, Tennessee, to answer questions about BlueOval City, Ford’s planned $5.6 billion EV manufacturing facility in West Tennessee. 

While crews began clearing the ground at the Megasite of West Tennessee as early as March, structural steel now represents the first phase of construction. 

There are a number of challenges that accompany BlueOval City, the production site by Ford Motor Co. about an hour’s drive from Memphis. 

In a letter to employees sent Monday, Aug. 22, Ford said about 2,000 full-time salaried positions would be eliminated, as well as 1,000 contract workers.

Related story:

Ford cutting 3,000 white-collar jobs in bid to lower costs

About 3,000 white-collar workers at Ford Motor Co. will lose their jobs as the company cuts costs to help make the long transition from internal combustion vehicles to those powered by batteries.

Ford has been working with the state, local institutions and community organizations to help create a pipeline of workers for the thousands of jobs that will be needed by 2025. 

More than 70 years after founding its charitable arm, Ford Motor Co. has invested more than $2.2 billion in initiatives that provide basic needs and access to essential services, offer tools to build new skillsets and open pathways to employment. 

Incoming Greater Memphis Chamber president and CEO Ted Townsend spoke Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Collierville Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon.

Interior construction isn’t expected to begin until April 2023, with peak construction in the months that follow.