Tennessee awarded Ford 2.4 billion dollars in subsidies to develop Blue Oval City, a massive electric vehicle facility, in Stanton TN by 2025. Ford pays $1 to lease the land. Blue Oval City is a huge investment and will bring in a need for massive new infrastructure that will change West Tennessee forever. Local residents are already seeing those changes with rising housing costs, environmental concerns around water and air pathways and predatory land grabs in historically black agricultural communities. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been funneled into Blue Oval City, both federally and statewide, and community members deserve to see a return on that investment. We deserve a seat at the table and we need a legally-binding Community Benefits Agreement that provides affordable housing units, environmental protections, local hire to the impacted counties and overall community investment.

You said that Ford is “committed to driving human progress that strives to increase access to transportation, protect our environment, enhance the health and well-being of the communities that surround us, and respect the rights of the people who live there.” Furthermore, Kel Kearns, plant manager, said “we’re creating jobs and providing economic opportunities and today you’re getting our commitment that we’re going to do this sustainability and we’re going to be a great neighbor.” Mr. Holycross - the way you can be a great neighbor to us is by coming to the table and signing a Community Benefits Agreement.

Blue Oval Good Neighbors, a group of dedicated local residents for a Community Benefits Agreement, has in partnership with Tennessee For All, been holding town hall meetings and talking to residents about the impact of your project. The months may change but we hear the same concerns and questions over and over. People cannot afford their homes and are worried about displacement. People are selling their land for a fraction of its worth to pave the way for commercial roadways. People are wondering how they can be included in the 5,000 jobs promised to local residents. People are wondering about the new odors in their communities from the development and how it will impact our incredible water and air quality. Blue Oval Good Neighbors came together and determined that our Community Benefits Agreement will (1) preserve our local environment and ensure proper environmental protections for our water and air pathways (2) invest and hire the local workforce of Haywood, Tipton, Lauderdale and Fayette county by funding local education programs and pre-apprenticeship programs and (3) prevent displacement of residents by providing affordable housing units in the directly impacted counties and (4) safeguard our agricultural communities who were promised generational wealth but are being asked to sell their land at a price that only leaves crumbs for their children and grandchildren. In sum, we demand that you invest, protect and preserve West Tennessee for the communities here today so we will not be forgotten about tomorrow.

It’s time you be the great neighbor you said you can be and join us at the table.