The June 2 announcement by Ford Motor Company that it was investing $1.5 billion in Lorain County at Ohio’s Avon Lake assembly plant to assemble an all-new commercial electric vehicle is some of the best business news this region has had received lately.
Not only is Ford committed to staying in this part of Northeast Ohio, but the automaker will create a whopping 1,800 new, high-paying jobs with health benefits and a better quality of life.
And the expanded facility will continue to produce Ford’s E-Series vans, medium-duty trucks and super-duty chassis cabs.
Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and JobsOhio joined Ford officials and local elected officials to announce the breakthrough news that the Ohio assembly plant will assemble the commercial electric vehicles.
DeWine also noted that the ingenuity and talent of Ohio’s automotive workforce is unmatched and Ford’s investment in the Ohio assembly plant will play a significant role in the growth of the electric vehicle space.
Ford has been a partner in Ohio for generations, and its confidence in operating the Ohio assembly plant ensures that Lorain County’s electric vehicle manufacturing will be critical for decades to come.
Ford also announced 90 additional jobs and a $100 million investment between its Lima Engine and Sharonville Transmission plants, which will boost those regions.
However, construction at the Ohio assembly plant is expected to begin later this year, with assembly of the commercial electric vehicle slated to begin mid-decade.
What is impressive about the announcement is that Ford, the DeWine-Husted administration, the Ohio Department of Development, the cities of Avon Lake and Sheffield Lake, Sheffield Village, Lorain County, state and local elected officials, and the Ohio congressional delegation all worked with JobsOhio have to achieve the Ohio assembly plant project.
JobsOhio, the state’s private not-for-profit economic development corporation, has focused heavily on supporting the automotive supply chain as OEMs have placed a large emphasis on electric vehicle production.
And JP Nauseef, President and CEO of JobsOhio, acknowledged that the Ohio assembly plant represents Ohio’s automotive heritage and world-class workforce, as well as a shared commitment with Ford to foster innovation in the transition to EVs for future production Splits.
As manufacturing in Lorain County continues to evolve, Nauseef said JobsOhio and its partners are committed to protecting and growing Ohio’s automotive industry by positioning the state as a global leader in electric vehicles.
Parts of the facility are located in Avon Lake, Sheffield Village and Sheffield Lake, and of course the leaders of these communities are enthusiastic.
Lorain County Commissioner Matt Lundy, who serves as chairman of the board, recalls that Ford kept telling him to be patient when he kept asking when promised future expansion would happen.
For Lundy, the wait was worth it.
Sheffield Village Mayor John D. Hunter admitted that he was extremely excited and pleased when he received a call from Ford and the UAW about future plans for the Ohio assembly plant.
A few years ago, Hunter predicted that Ford and the UAW would come to an agreement to build the electric vehicles at the Ohio assembly plant.
And now Hunter, and probably thousands of others, have renewed their faith in Ford and the UAW, and with good reason.
Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka called the announcement a big day for Lorain County.
And for Zilka, Ford’s announcement puts an end to years of rumors that the company would be leaving the area.
Zilka also credited all entities working together to keep Ford here, including the automaker itself, community mayors, the UAW and JobsOhio.
Ted Esborn, Avon Lake’s director of economic development, said that the focus on tax revenues misses the much larger picture and that every investment bodes well for a facility’s future, but that investment is special.
Pat Hastings, City of Sheffield Lake Services Director, agreed with the region’s mayors on Ford’s announcement, adding that it is very exciting for Lorain County’s economic growth and stability and highlighting the partnerships that have made this possible.
State Senator Nathan Manning called Ford’s investment a testament to the world-class workforce in Lorain County and Northeast Ohio and that he is proud to have sponsored megaproject legislation that will help Ohio attract life-changing investments like this one.
It’s an understatement that Northeast Ohio is glad Ford chose this region to help manufacture this commercial electric vehicle.
But continuing the region’s rich legacy in automotive innovation also played a role.
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