Ford incentive deal, megasite panel approved by General Assembly

[TexasTowelie]

The nearly $900 million incentive package for Ford to build Blue Oval City on the Memphis Regional Megasite has passed both chambers of the General Assembly.

The Senate voted 27-3 on both the funding measure and a bill creating a new megasite authority. The opponents were Sens. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma), Mark Pody (R-Lebanon), and Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield).

The House later voted 90-3 to approve the bill fudning the megasite. Opponents were Reps. Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka), Terri Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster), and Tim Rudd (R-Murfreesboro).

The bills are expected to be signed into law quickly by Gov. Bill Lee so work on the megasite can get underway.

Read more: https://onthehill.tnjournal.net/ford-incentive-deal-poised-for-passage/

[TexasTowelie]

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Legislature approves Ford’s Blue Oval City, largest investment in state history


With some members calling it a “metamorphic moment” for West Tennessee, the Legislature approved a $900 million incentive package for Ford Motor Co. and, despite criticism, created a board with broad powers to oversee the project.

Wrapping up a special session, the Senate and House passed funding Wednesday for the campus dubbed Blue Oval City at the Memphis Regional Megasite as well as the megasite authority, on 27-3 votes and 90-3 votes respectively with two abstentions per chamber. Both chambers later concurred on the legislation, which will bring a $5.6 billion investment and 5,800 jobs to the state-owned 4,200-acre site in Haywood County, about 45 miles east of downtown Memphis.

Republican Sens. Mark Pody, Kerry Roberts and Janice Bowling and Republican Reps. Tim Rudd, Terri Lynn Weaver and Scott Cepicky voted against the project. Pody cited concerns with the megasite authority, but Roberts and Bowling declined to comment.

Sen. Page Walley, a Bolivar Republican who carried the megasite authority legislation, pointed out the Ford deal will be the largest and “most environmentally-friendly project in the country” and will benefit people across his district, from Stanton to “Nutbush city limits.”

Read more: https://tennesseelookout.com/2021/10/20/legislature-approves-fords-blue-oval-city-largest-investment-in-state-history/