CALHOUN COUNTY, MI (WNWN/WTVB) – Backers of Ford’s BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall are calling a ruling by Calhoun County Circuit Court Judge William Marietti a major victory for local jobs and opportunities.
The judge dismissed a lawsuit filed on all counts against the Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance by the Committee for Marshall Not the Megasite.
The citizens group filed suit after their petition to force a community vote on the rezoning of 700 acres of land between 13 and 15 Mile Roads for the electric vehicle battery factory was ruled insufficient.
The committee plans to appeal Marietti’s decision. The ruling means the project remains on track although work was suspended during the UAW strike against the Big Three automakers.
Ford Motor Company announced on November 21 that while they are moving ahead with the BlueOval Battery Park, they were scaling back their plans. The facility will now create more than 1,700 jobs after officials initially announced nearly 2,500 workers would be hired.
Marshall Area Economic Development Alliance CEO Jim Durian said in a statement on Wednesday, “This ruling is a major win for local jobs, local small businesses and the entire Marshall community. With this lawsuit now dismissed and behind us, we look forward to keeping this important project moving forward as planned, because it will help Marshall recover from years of job and population losses, pump millions of dollars into our local economy and create opportunities for young people so they don’t have to leave the area to find jobs.”
He went on to say, “The future is bright for Marshall and our region, and this ruling allows our entire community to come together and focus on the enormous opportunities ahead.”
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