When we launched the Ford Good Neighbor Plan for West Tennessee, we made a commitment to invest $9 million in the communities surrounding BlueOval City and to build that investment around what we heard directly from residents.

We are proud to share we have exceeded that goal, investing nearly $11.7 million across West Tennessee, and there is still more to come.

Led by Ford Community Relations, the Equitable Growth Advisory Council, and Ford Philanthropy — and shaped by ongoing conversations with local leaders and residents — this work reflects what can happen when a plan is grounded in listening and carried forward with purpose.

The result is real-world impact that we’re seeing right in our backyard. Since the launch of the Good Neighbor Plan, we’ve focused our efforts on the things that matter most to you:

• Community Gathering Spaces — Creating Spaces to Connect: Some of our favorite projects started with you, like the new playgrounds that were inspired by a student-led lemonade stand. Other projects like the Pilgrim Rest Community Center renovations are creating more places for neighbors to gather and grow.

• Community Preservation — Building Stronger Foundations: We know a community is only as strong as its support systems. We’ve invested in emergency radio upgrades for first responders and partnered with Vision Haywood to keep families in their homes and with utilities during difficult times.

• Protecting the Environment — Preserving Our Backyard: We’re investing in the future of our environment, from restoring the Hatchie River to hosting youth fishing rodeos that help the next generation appreciate the natural world.

• Literacy Programs — Opening New Chapters: We put resources toward literacy to ensure students have the tools they need to succeed, from starting the Reading Success Academy in Covington to providing new technology at Haywood Elementary.

• Support for Farmers and Businesses — Growing Local Livelihoods: We stand behind local farmers and small business owners. From funding legal aid to secure family land to investing in the Douglass Community Garden and Farmers’ Market, we’re strengthening West Tennessee’s farm and business future.

• Workforce Development — Creating Pathways to Opportunity: We’re investing in a local workforce pipeline through scholarships, hands-on STEM experiences at the Ford Future Builder Labs, and support for a new YMCA Child Development Center.

• Youth Programs — Empowering Our Kids: We’re hard at work with the Boys & Girls Clubs to create safe, modern spaces where kids can just be kids. We also invested in sports, music, and leadership programs that expand their horizons.

• Ford Philanthropy Partnerships — Removing Barriers, Expanding Opportunity: Through the Ford Community Center, Future Builders Labs, Catch-a-Ride Network, scholarships, and our other partnerships, we expand access to education, workforce training, and essential services that support long-term stability.

You can read more about our progress with the Ford Good Neighbor Plan in West Tennessee. While we are proud of what we have accomplished together so far, we want to be clear: We aren't stopping here.

The Ford Good Neighbor Plan for West Tennessee was always meant to be a living document. As we look ahead, we want to make sure our investments continue to hit the mark. We plan to continue sitting down with you, listening to your feedback, and making adjustments to the Ford Good Neighbor Plan based on what you, the residents, tell us you need most.

You can take the survey at form.jotform.com/YA_admin/GNPsurvey or emailing us at commrels@ford.com.

Thank you for welcoming us into your community and for the role you have played in this progress. We can't wait to see what we build moving forward together!

Gabby Bruno is director of community relations at Ford Motor Company