Last year, a group of residents in rural West Tennessee near the Ford BlueOval City site formed the BlueOval Good Neighbors Coalition, which asked FoMoCo to sign a legally binding community benefits agreement as it aims to ensure that the future plant hires locals and also prevents gentrification from occurring. Ford responded by creating the Good Neighbor Plan to further aid the local community, moves that include providing scholarships and grants. Now, the very first Ford Good Neighbor grants have been announced.
The first round of Ford Good Neighbor grants total $201,445, and are going to 13 vital public safety organizations and community centers located near the BlueOval City campus in Tennessee. That list includes organizations that support public safety, such as fire and police departments – Fayette County Fire Department, Fayette County Emergency Response, Three Star Volunteer Fire Department, Mason Police Department, Mason Fire Department, Braden Volunteer Fire Department, City of Galloway Volunteer Fire Department, Somerville Fire Department, Stanton Fire Department, and Haywood County Fire Department.
“The grant is a tremendous benefit for our department and the community we serve,” said Three Star’s Fire Chief Jim Long. “We are grateful for this award and look forward to a continuing partnership with Ford Motor company as we serve the people of Tipton County.”
Additionally, three community centers received a total of $60,000 to help address critical infrastructure needs – West Haywood Community Center, Pilgrim Rest Community Center, and the D-HCT Carver Alumni Association.
“The West Haywood Community Center is an important gathering space for town hall meetings, neighborhood watches, community gardens and playgrounds,” said Willie Lee, president of West Haywood Community Center. “This financial support from Ford will inspire us to continue our efforts with renewed dedication and enthusiasm. Partnerships like these empower us to bring transformative change to the lives of those we serve.”
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