Ford Motor Company and Ford Philanthropy marked a significant milestone today with the groundbreaking of a new Ford Community Center in Stanton, Tennessee, at the historic Stanton School. The event, held in collaboration with United Way of West Tennessee and other local partners, marks the start of a project designed to uplift and serve long-term residents in Stanton and neighboring communities such as Brownsville, Covington, and Somerville.
The new center aims to be a hub for economic empowerment and support services, offering a wide range of resources to meet community needs. Dr. Clarice White, a project advocate and alumna of the Stanton School, joined Mary Culler, President of Ford Philanthropy, to tour the site, which will undergo a historic renovation. The Stanton School, built in 1948 to educate African American students before desegregation, will be transformed into a modern community space while preserving its heritage.
“Today’s groundbreaking is the culmination of many hours of listening, learning, and collaborating with local residents, nonprofits, and community leaders about what’s needed most,” said Culler. “We aim to create meaningful opportunities for growth and connection for all residents in the area, now and for years to come.”
The center will serve as a “front door” to local resources, providing support in areas like financial empowerment, legal aid, health, and food security. United Way of West Tennessee’s President and CEO, Matt Marshall, emphasized the center’s role in meeting the needs of families in the region. “With the support of Ford Philanthropy and the State of Tennessee, families in and around the BlueOval Impact Zone will have new opportunities to benefit from the economic growth coming to West Tennessee,” he said.
Located near Ford’s BlueOval City, an electric vehicle and battery manufacturing campus, the Ford Community Center is part of a broader investment in West Tennessee. The center aims to leverage the economic benefits of this development while addressing the community’s needs through coordinated nonprofit efforts and modernized facilities, including upgraded broadband access.
Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter of the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development highlighted the center’s potential impact, stating, “The Ford Community Center will be a vital resource to this region and is testament to the cohesiveness and strong relationships we have fostered statewide.”
The project has been made possible with the support of various local partners, including the Town of Stanton, Mid-South Food Bank, Le Bonheur Community Health and Well-being, and several others. With over 2,500 hours of community input shaping its design, the Ford Community Center is set to become a beacon of opportunity and unity for Stanton and the surrounding areas.
