Brownsville mayor talks area potential growth fueled by massive BlueOval City project

Ford Motor Co.’s massive BlueOval City project could be a turning point for Brownsville.

The $5.6 billion electric truck and battery project in rural West Tennessee — scheduled to open in 2025 — is expected to create about 5,800 jobs and provide a significant economic boost to one of the region’s most economically disadvantaged counties.

Brownsville Mayor Bill Rawls believes the small, rural West Tennessee city with an estimated population of 9,500 could experience a population explosion after years of depopulation. The city is 13 miles from the BlueOval City campus in Stanton.

“Because we had a population decline for so many years, we don’t have any new housing development,” Rawls said. “The thing we’re working on now is establishing utility capacity to accommodate this type of growth. We all heard the phrase they build it; they will come. That’s true, but in this case BlueOval is here and they’re coming.

"We have already seen some land speculators come in and grab land, but they don’t know what they want to do with it. That’s not what we need. We need a plan and for everyone to be part of the vision. It’s vital that we make sure we have quality housing to accommodate future growth.”

Rawls acknowledged more business activity, including fast food restaurants such as Taco Bell and Wendy's, recently opened locations around Courthouse Square.

“We’re glad to have activity, so it’s a good problem to have,” he said. “But we’re also trying diligently to get a hotel because we need more hotel space.

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BlueOval City spurs industrial activity

Furthermore, in the works for Brownsville and Haywood County stemming from BlueOval City’s arrival is a leading electrolyte manufacturer set to bring nearly 200 jobs to the area. Electric vehicle battery supplier Enchem announced in June it plans to invest $152.5 million and create 190 new jobs in Brownsville. The South Korean company supplies material for electric vehicle batteries.

The company will build out manufacturing operations at I-40 Advantage Industrial Park in Brownsville, which is near BlueOval City. Enchem America in Brownsville will be the firm’s second U.S. manufacturing facility. It is expected to operate similarly to Enchem’s U.S. headquarters in Commerce, Georgia, and manufacture electrolytes for EV batteries and other EV battery-related services. Rawls said the project is slated to go under construction next summer.

Rawls is confident more EV-related companies will consider locating or expanding operations in Brownsville because of being direct suppliers for BlueOval.

“We absolutely believe we’re going to see more industrial announcements coming to our area,” Rawls said. “They [ Enchem] brought 135 acres, but we still have 160 acres [I-40 Advantage Industrial Park] available and is shovel ready.”

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Alerting residents of impending growth

Rawls was adamant that the biggest challenge he is facing is getting the residents prepared for the type of growth that could be in the future for Brownsville off the arrival of BlueOval City. He said it is paramount that students graduating in the next few years and those going straight into the workforce take advantage of the resources in school that could possibly help land them a high-paying job at BlueOval City.

“We want people to know that there is training available and we’re doing dual enrollment classes at the high school [Haywood High School], so our children can be prepared,” Rawls said. “This project is going to affect them. We’re going to have the jobs, which they can start off making like $20-plus an hour with benefits and maybe get a raise every six months. The magnitude of what’s happening blows me away, and it’s truly going to change Brownsville and the surrounding areas of West Tennessee.

Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ford BlueOval City arrival sets up Brownsville for future growth