Ford Motor Co. will invest $16.5 million in river and wetland restoration at the University of Tennessee Agricultural Institute’s Loan Oaks Farm, its latest investment in the state.
The Michigan-based company made the announcement Friday morning at the 2022 Memphis International Auto Show during a panel discussing the new partnership between Ford and the University of Tennessee.
UT Extension is developing Lone Oaks, a 1,200-acre facility, into a 4-H and STEM (science, technology, education, and math) education center in Middleton, about 45 miles east of Memphis and near Ford’s future Blue Oval City campus in Haywood County. .
“Each year, UTIA provides valuable life skills and STEM educational opportunities to nearly 112,000 students across Tennessee,” UT President Randy Boyd said in a statement. “Ford’s investment in Lone Oaks will ensure our 4-H program can extend STEM education to Tennessee students for years to come.”
Ford was required to invest in significant river restoration projects due to the size of the Blue Oval City due to the Clean Water of Act 1972. The law requires that any impacts on rivers and wetlands from development projects, such as buildings and roads, must be offset by restoring and permanently protect an equivalent amount of habitat elsewhere.
While the educational program at Lone Oaks serves approximately 5,000 K-12 students annually, the new facility will enable the program’s continued growth and offer overnight STEM programs and camps.
Once the project is complete, the investment will restore and provide community access to approximately two miles of the badly damaged river and several acres of wetlands along Cub Creek, 40 miles southeast of Blue Oval City in Middleton.
The $16.5 million investment covers construction costs to restore approximately 20,000 feet of river on the Lone Oaks property while also providing long-term financial funding for Lone Oaks educational programs. The remaining funds from the project will be invested by the UT Foundation to support educational programs at Lone Oaks Farm in perpetuity, according to a news release.
“In addition to restoring flows, this partnership will create additional opportunities for our UT Extension professionals to develop STEM programs with an emphasis on workforce skills and preparation for higher education. As the needs of employers in the region and state change, we adapt our educational programs to fit those needs,” said UT Extension Dean Ashley Stokes.
Ford officials, along with South Korean company SK On, announced plans in September for a $5.6 billion project to produce electric trucks and electric vehicle batteries on a 4,100-acre site in Stanton. The project is expected to create around 5,800 jobs.
Ford hopes the additional STEM training will prepare some state residents to be ready for the new job once production at the plant begins in 2025.
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The Tennessee Wildlife Federation and the West Tennessee River Basin Authority (WTRBA) are also involved in the project.
The Tennessee Wildlife Federation is a non-profit organization focused on conservation efforts in Tennessee through advocacy, education, and conservation projects on the ground, including river and wetland restoration.
WTRBA is an independent unit of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. WTRBA is tasked with managing rivers, streams, lakes, and other water issues in West Tennessee. WTRBA is also responsible for design, engineering, construction and monitoring for river restoration.
Omer Yusuf covers Ford projects in Haywood County, residential real estate, tourism and banking for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached via email Omer.Yusuf@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @OmerAYusuf.