Revitalizing Rural Communities in Tennessee

Massive BlueOval City project shows value of state’s ongoing investment in smaller communities.

By Joe Morris on November 18, 2023

Ford Media Center

Ford’s BlueOval City, a massive, $5.6 billion campus for electric vehicle research and production, will transform West Tennessee when it opens in 2025. Ford is one of many companies that are investing in Tennessee.

While this is certainly good news for Memphis and its suburbs, it’s game changing for the area’s smaller and rural communities.

And several years of state investment in broadband access and shovel-ready industrial areas has ensured that smaller communities have the workforce-training capabilities and physical amenities to draw businesses and get their share of economic benefits alongside the state’s booming cities. 

State Invests in Education 

BlueOval City will produce Ford’s second-generation electric truck, code named Project T3, and EV batteries. At the same time, suppliers like Magna will also be doing business in the area. BlueOval City is being designed as a sustainable ecosystem, according to Ford, and the manufacturer has already been busy with outreach to ensure workforce training programs are in place across West Tennessee. 

Ford is being met with open arms by local educators eager to continue elevating their offerings. 

“Since Gov. Bill Lee was elected, there has been a lot of focus on career and technical programs across the state in smaller areas,” says Shawn Kimble, superintendent of Lauderdale County Schools. “We have gotten more funding, which has allowed us to do some more innovative things around career and technical education programs.” 

Those efforts have resulted in multiple pathways for students that put them in a good position to land high-paying jobs. 

“Our industries have always needed a better and stronger workforce, and BlueOval just added a sense of urgency,” Kimble says. “We’ve been able to work with companies that are here, as well as Ford’s workforce development team, to see what their needs are. We went to Detroit to see Ford’s advanced manufacturing center and have had a lot of conversations with them about what the future looks like for workers in West Tennessee.”

“Now we’re working to align our pathways for students in our high schools and community colleges in a way that will help us flood the region with people who have the right skills.” 

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

Planning Ahead in Tennessee

Local leaders also have responded to Ford’s arrival by working on industrial recruitment. They’ve also begun to address housing needs, infrastructure for both residential and commercial development, and a heightened focus on quality of life, says Mark Herbison, president and CEO of HTL Advantage, an economic development coalition focused on recruiting industries into Haywood, Tipton and Lauderdale counties. 

“We’re recruiting people now as well as companies, and that means we need the amenities they’ll be looking for,” he says.

“We’re seeing growth and investments in counties that have been struggling, and we’re seeing people come in instead of leave for the first time in a long time,” Herbison adds. “We’re going to be working on housing developments and working to bring in restaurants and entertainment. We will be showcasing our communities, talking about our low taxes, our school systems and all the things that make this area a great place to work and raise a family.” 

Everyone involved is eager to keep the momentum going, Herbison says. 

“We’re seeing several suppliers considering the region for their operations, and in June 2023, the first supplier to BlueOval City, Enchem America, announced a $152.5 million, 200-employee manufacturing facility in Brownsville,” he says. “It’s just incredible to see the attention that we’re getting, and there’s more all the time.” 

Creating Opportunities in Rural Tennessee

Tennessee has launched several programs to create opportunities to enhance the quality of life in rural communities. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) has introduced initiatives to help communities develop strategic plans to grow jobs, recruit new industry, and assist entrepreneurs and existing small businesses. 

“We like to help all communities become places where people want to locate, live and work,” says Brooxie Carlton, TNECD assistant commissioner for community and rural development. Carlton adds that many of the programs and funds are targeted to rural and distressed communities, based on unemployment rates, poverty rates and per capita income. 

“A huge program for us right now is broadband deployment,” she says. Carlton adds that installing broadband infrastructure in rural areas could also provide residents with eventual access to virtual health care options. “We also direct funds for projects like adding water and sewer lines to communities so they can attract more business and manufacturing.” 

– Staff Writer Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.