Ford Motor Company has released the promised details Investment of $9 million In the West Tennessee community, the new community Blueoval City Stanton’s electric vehicle manufacturing campus on Thursday.

The plan would include restoring Stanton’s historic African-American school building into a new Ford Community Center, which serves as a community service hub for around 40,500 residents living within a 15-mile radius of the Blue Val City campus. Included. Just under 17% of these residents live under the poverty line, with more than half struggling to provide basic income needs, according to Ford.

Ford also plans to continue efforts to financially support other community spaces, invest in youth programs and literacy initiatives, and support the factory’s local workforce pipeline. Ford’s funding contributes to the Financial Support Fund and initiative that provides greater access to legal aid, healthcare, fresh food, financial literacy and support for small and medium-sized businesses. The plan also details Ford’s environmental commitment, including groundwater monitoring wells aimed at protecting the Memphis Sand aquifer, which provides clean drinking water to Memphis and surrounding areas.

The company said that since the automaker announced the location of the Brueval City Plant in 2021, it has shaped its commitment through more than 2,500 hours of community engagement. The Council has decided on plan priorities. The company said it will continue to inspect residents, provide listening sessions and provide annual progress reports.

Funding for the plan comes after initial $1.2 million in support from Ford Charitable efforts in various West Tennessee programs.

A coalition of community members who have asked Ford to enter into a legally binding community benefit agreement issued a statement Thursday promoting accountability measures for Ford’s commitment and “meaning seating” for residents .

Community Coalition says Ford’s commitment doesn’t have a measure of accountability

The Blue Val Good Neighbors Coalition, supported by all-time in Tennessee, has implemented its own community outreach over the past two years, with Ford’s plan saying “strengthening racial and economic disparities in West Tennessee.” There’s no stopping me from doing this.”

The group criticised the composition of Ford’s impartial growth advisory committee, partly citing Fayette County Mayor skips Taylor’s inclusion to Council. Taylor was mayor during the 2021 rezoning process currently arguing by the US Department of Justice Violated the Voting Rights Act By stripping black voters who have equal opportunities.

The coalition highlights the impact of the rapid-growing other stock rise on the majority black communities in the region. Ford’s plans include some Items requested by Blueoval Good Neighbors It does not include the creation of a committee of neighbours with supervision authority, such as rent support and monitoring. This means that the group is the key to accountability.

Request for community coalition issues for Blueoval City’s interests, call for negotiations to Ford

The group also has other commitments to legally binding contracts, including local employment commitments, investments in ownership of public lands, repairs harm to black farmers, affordable housing access to black-led organizations, and investments. I called on Ford to include.

Ford pledges other investments in new community centers and other public spaces

Stanton School, an African-American school that served hundreds of students since its reconstruction between 1948 and 1969, was restored and reused in a community center in a partnership with Ford through two state grants. It will be done.

The state’s Connected Community Facilities Grant Program Use the American Rescue Plan Act funds to create community spaces with digital access. The program offers up to $2 million, covers 90% of project costs and plays 10% of the match from the grantees. It is not immediately clear how much the cost of rehabilitation at Stanton School Building and how much coverage for the Ford and state grants will be. Tennessee Historical Development Grantswhich preserves the structures listed in the National Historic Site (Stanton School was added in 2020), and also funds historic renovations.

The Ford Community Center is scheduled to open in 2025, and community services that will eventually be housed there will be provided through local non-profit partnerships during that time.

The company has also committed to providing financial support to new and existing community centers, new or upgraded playgrounds, new farmers market pavilions and other outdoor communities amenities. The plan does not yet provide details about specific recipients or costs.

Talent Pipeline and Other Community Support

Ford’s commitment to expanding its local employee base includes a $2,500 attendance cost scholarship for students studying advanced auto manufacturing students within 60 miles of Blue Val City. Masu.

Support includes the design and resources for mentorship programs, STEM education programs for local schools, from primary to college level, and computer access and literacy resources. The Ford Tennessee Discovery Center in Brownsville will open on campus “close to the start of local hourly employment” and will provide the opportunity to meet with Ford representatives and discuss how to apply for employment opportunities in the factory .

The company has also pledged to work with partner organizations to reduce employment barriers, including:

• Working with the YMCA to build childcare facilities within half a mile of the factory and expand childcare in rural West Tennessee
• Working with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the University of Memphis and the City of Memphis, we will provide transportation (probably via bus and van) to employees in Bleuval City who live in nearby towns.
• Supports high school diploma equivalent programs
• Partnering with a program that helps formerly imprisoned people re-enter the workforce

Ford has also committed to funding or supporting a range of programs to enhance financial education, access to resources and enrichment activities for young people.

The priorities are as follows:

• Community Support Fund for rent, utilities and housing repair costs for “families facing temporary difficulties”
• Increased transportation options to healthcare and grocery stores
• Funding for more police and firefighters and equipment
• Funding for Mobile Healthcare Services and Telehealth
• Support access to legal assistance through legal assistance organizations and access to free tax preparation assistance
• Supports after-school youth programs and increases youth enrichment programs
• Class support for financial literacy, business training and entrepreneurship
• Supports literacy programs for adults and children

Environmental commitment

Ford is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and using carbon-free electricity in its manufacturing by 2035.

Blueoval City will “follow best practices” to protect the environment, including:

• There is no underground storage tank
• Redundant safety features for chemical storage
• Dedicated wastewater drainage
• Industrial water reuse and preservation of freshwater for human needs
• Installation of groundwater monitoring wells
• Limits emissions
• Heat recovery to heat the facility
• Implementation of plans to prevent spills and stormwater pollution and planning to clean up the spill
• You must use routes that avoid the neighborhood to transport hazardous goods coming and going to the campus
• Recycling battery scrap

Ford funded the Lone Oaks Farm stream restoration project to reduce the impact on wetlands that were hindered by the construction of the campus, as the state requires. The company has also invested in local maintenance and beautification efforts.