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environment. The Chancellor of University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM), Dr.
Keith Carver, predicts that all sectors of higher education will provide valuable
training opportunities for both Ford and its suppliers (personal communication, May
3, 2022). Some of these postsecondary programs will be cooperative in nature. He
is particularly excited about the role that UTM’s Tennessee Entrepreneurial Science
and Technology (TEST) Hub may play. The TEST Hub was fully funded in April
2022 by the Tennessee General Assembly and is planned as a hands-on center for
engineering education, innovation, and workforce/economic development (UTM,
2022). Carver describes the proposed TEST Hub as a workforce initiative that
combines the efforts of his university, Dyersburg State Community College, and
area TCATs (personal communication, May 3, 2022).
TCAT-Jackson President Sisk also sees a bright future for all postsecondary
institutions in the area. The Blue Oval City TCAT Campus will provide space
for partner community colleges and universities to teach continuing education
courses for Ford employees as they seek advancement to jobs requiring associate
and bachelor’s degrees (personal communication, April 21, 2022). Rather than a
decline in postsecondary enrollment, Sisk anticipates an increase: “There is really
no ‘unskilled’ labor at an operation like this. You will either need to be ‘skilled’ or
‘super-skilled’ to be employed at Blue Oval City” (personal communication, April
21, 2022).
The Ford Blue Oval City announcement is certainly changing perspectives on
teaching and learning in this part of Tennessee. Although not all students in this area
will be suited for or attracted to a job in advanced manufacturing, many will. No
longer will our students need to leave the area in search of good jobs. Instead, our
students will expect our schools to prepare them for the jobs at hand. According to
Gregg, GEAR UP Tennessee Project Director, “It is important that we help students
find the postsecondary careers and plans that best fit their interests and abilities but
also meet their long-term plans and quality of life” (personal communication, March
28, 2022). At every level, our schools will need to work hard to change external
and internal perceptions of the quality of our workforce and the career opportunities
available, whether that includes a career at Blue Oval City or elsewhere.

References
Airy, A. (2021, October 5). Ford EV exec: What made the Memphis Regional Megasite stand out.
Memphis Business Journal. https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2021/10/05/why
-ford-chose-memphis-regional-megasite-blue-oval.html
Aldrich, M. (2021, October 1). As Ford Motor Co. plants a new industry in West Tennessee,
schools will need to feed the workforce. Chalkbeat Tennessee. https://tn.chalkbeat.org
/2021/10/1/22704901/ford-motor-co-tennessee-electric-cars-schools-workforce-jobs

Butkovich, G. (2021, September 28). Ford plans $5.6 B project at Memphis Regional Megasite:
How we got here. Commercial Appeal. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story
/money/business/development/2021/09/27/ford-tennessee-memphis-regional-megasite
/5884923001/
Coleman, J. (2022, March 25). Probing the next steps to Blue Oval City. TSDmemphis.com.
https://tri-statedefender.com/probing-the-next-steps-to-blue-oval-city/03/25/
Diprizio, J. (2021, June 9). Mega mistake? Critics question Gov. Bill Lee’s plans to spend
$52 million of taxpayer money on Memphis Regional Megasite. abc24. https://www.
localmemphis.com/article/news/investigations/i-team/critics-question-gov-bill-lees-plans

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