EXPLORE HOW DATA + STORY-TELLING CAN BE A POWERFUL TOOL AND PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN LANDING BLUE OVAL IN TENNESSEE
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In late 2020, under the leadership of Greg Word, the VisionFirst team utilized JobsEQ software to conduct their most comprehensive analysis to date on the Memphis Regional Megasite, aimed at attracting Ford and SK Innovation for their advanced automotive EV manufacturing campus. Mark Herbison, President and CEO of HTL Advantage, attributes this analysis as pivotal in securing the project.
VisionFirst focused on three critical areas: assessing the current workforce readiness in West Tennessee, evaluating the potential for skill development among local workers, and forecasting the availability of future talent in the region. To achieve these goals, they leveraged Chmura's labor market research platform, JobsEQ, to:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the West Tennessee workforce, analyzing demographics, population trends, labor force size, and participation rates within 45- and 90-minute drive times of the megasite.
- Benchmark the region against successful automotive OEM projects in the Southeast, including Toyota, Mercedes, and Volkswagen facilities. This comparative analysis highlighted West Tennessee's strong competitiveness for large automotive projects.
- Examine a decade-long economic overview of the region, demonstrating sustained growth in labor force participation rates that outpaced national and competitor averages.
VisionFirst's meticulous analysis, utilizing JobsEQ, provided compelling evidence for the suitability of the Memphis Regional Megasite, underscoring its potential as an ideal location for Ford and SK Innovation's innovative manufacturing venture.
In September 2021, Ford and SK Innovation unveiled their plan to establish BlueOval City at the Memphis Regional Mega Site, committing a substantial $5.6 billion investment in West Tennessee. Spanning nearly six square miles, this campus will integrate vehicle assembly, battery production, and a supplier park, forming a comprehensive and sustainable ecosystem. Designed to operate with zero waste to landfill, the facility is expected to generate approximately 6,000 new jobs, marking a transformative impact on the local workforce.
As we embark on a webinar, let Greg show you tools and tricks from the Blue Oval that can be mimicked for a variety of projects or target industries in general.
As a managing director at VisionFirst Advisors, Greg has worked in economic development at the regional, state and utility levels. His scope of experience is both broad and specialized, making him an important asset to the VisionFirst team. The level of commitment he gives to each and every client has earned him a great deal of recognition and respect within the field, including being named one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect.
Prior to joining VisionFirst, Greg served as senior vice president of Economic Development for the Greater Jackson Alliance. In this role, the organization was recognized by Community System’s Digital 25 as an “organization that best uses digital technology to differentiate its community online to better serve businesses.”
Before joining the Alliance, he was bureau manager of Business Intelligence and Support for the Mississippi Development Authority. Greg also served as manager technical/graphic services for North Mississippi Industrial Development Association. In these roles, his involvement in economic development teams helped produce numerous successful projects resulting in more than $3 billion in investment and thousands of announced jobs.
A graduate of Mississippi State University, Greg currently serves on the board of directors for the Mississippi Economic Development Council as Past President.
Greg brings his energetic and enthusiastic nature to his life outside the office as well. He enjoys fitness, travel, exploring the outdoors and bird watching. He is also passionate about community outreach and serves on the board of directors for Extra Table, an organization committed to ending hunger in Mississippi.