(The Center Square) – Local leaders and Ford executives continue to support Michigan’s newest Ford plant, BlueOval Battery Park Michigan.
The 1.8 million-square-foot facility is still expected to open next year and will create 1,700 permanent new jobs for the community.
“The future of Marshall looks better today than it has in 40 years,” said Scott Wolfersberger, mayor of the City of Marshall. “Ford is truly a great American company, and we should all be proud that they selected Marshall as the place to invest for its long-term future.”
Wolfersberger joined local business owners and business groups at a press conference recently to discuss the positive impact the plant has already had on the local economy.
This press conference came as concerns have been growing about the future of the multi-billion dollar plant after Ford leadership said it might be in jeopardy because of proposed cuts to electric vehicle tax credits, as previously reported by The Center Square.
Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford Motor Co., said at a press conference in May the cuts could “imperil” the project.
“We made a certain investment based upon a policy that was in place,” Ford said of the prospective cuts. “It’s not fair to change policies after all the expenditure has been made.”
The potential cuts are a part of the Republican-sponsored One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The bill looks to end credits specifically to manufacturers using Chinese technology, which the Marshall plant intends to utilize in its battery production.
Despite those concerns, city officials said Ford has expressed they are still committed to the project.
“The tax credit obviously changes the dynamic of this whole project, but we’ve seen commitment from Ford over and over again,” said Wolfersberger during the press conference. “They are committed to this facility and making these batteries in the United States in Marshall.”
BlueOval is a subsidiary of the Ford Motor Co. The plant will lithium iron-phosphate batteries for all-electric vehicles, which are expected to power Ford’s future electric vehicles.
The potential tax credit cuts have not been the only hurdle for the plant.
While originally set to create upwards of 2,500 jobs once operational and bring a $3.5 billion dollar investment from Ford, the project has since been scaled back.
That said, local leaders are still very happy about the plant and all the ways it is already benefiting the surrounding community economically.
“Building the local talent pipeline and attracting new families will reverse job losses and population losses, increase our tax revenues, and positively impact our community for generations,” said Jim Durian, the CEO of the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance. “It’s clear that Ford Blue Oval benefits our entire region, our state and our country.”
Durian added that it is good to be bringing manufacturing back to America and especially Michigan.
“Manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles here in Michigan will bring an important part of our automotive supply chain to the United States,” Durian said. “Bringing back our automotive supply chain to the United States will enhance our national security and create new jobs for Americans.”
Throughout the project, taxpayer monies, both from the state and local Marshall entities, has played a critical role in funding. Most recently, the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance “transferred” 500 acres of land to BlueOval Battery Michigan LLC for the building of the plant, as previously reported by The Center Square. The land transfer now makes it the largest industrial property owner in Marshall.
The project is supported by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and has received significant financial support from the state through hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and tax exemptions.
In return for the taxpayer investments, Ford has committed to local investments and increased tax revenue. To date, MAEDA reports Ford has invested more than $600,000 to fund a number of Calhoun County organizations and services, including local public schools, theaters, and the city itself.
“From day one, Ford has been an incredible partner,” Durian said. “It’s exciting to see one of America’s most iconic companies, Ford Motor Company, investing in Michigan and helping us build a brighter future for Marshall.”
