Jim Schwartz, the mayor of Marshall, Michigan, is taking Ford Motor Company at its word that construction on the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan is temporarily stopped – and will resume.
Ford issued a statement on September 25, 2023 announcing construction would be paused:
“We’re pausing work and limiting spending on construction on the Marshall project until we’re confident about our ability to competitively operate the plant. There are a number of considerations. We haven’t made any final decision about the planned investment there.”
Schwartz tells Community Matters he expects construction on the plant to continue – and a release of another $65 million on September 26, 2023 from the Michigan Strategic Fund underscores it. He also points to striking UAW workers as a potential factor.
Click to listen to the mayor's full interview.
Episode Resources
Committee for Marshall – Not the Megasite website
Committee for Marshall – Not the Megasite Facebook page
BlueOval Battery Park Michigan website
Ford Careers website
Marshall, Michigan website
Marshall Township, Michigan website
Ford Motor Company press release about BlueOval Battery Park Michigan
Choose Marshall-MAEDA website
CATL website
PA 425 Conditional Land Use Transfer Explained
More BlueOval episodes
ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS
Former WBCK Morning Show host Richard Piet (2014-2017) returns to host Community Matters, an interview program focused on community leaders and newsmakers in and around Battle Creek. Community Matters is heard Saturdays, 8-8:30 AM Eastern on WBCK-FM (95.3) and anytime at battlecreekpodcast.com.