Author: Scott Pelkey
LIBERTY N.C. (ACME NEWS)- Toyota will be bringing 1,750 jobs to the area after announcing today that they will be building a battery manufacturing plant at the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite in Randolph County.
The car manufacture said today they will invest 1.29 billion dollars in building the facility which once constructed will begin producing batteries for Toyota’s hybrid electric vehicles starting as soon as 2025. “Toyota could have chosen anywhere in the United States for this first battery plant and they chose us,” said Gov Cooper (D-N.C.).
Reynolds, in his speech said that the companies investment at the mega-site is the largest private capital investment in North Carolina history. Reynolds also hinted about a “Phase II” for the plant once constructed.
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met at 9 a.m. this morning for public comment and to vote on the transfer of ownership of the mega site property and economic development tax cuts. Darrell L. Frye said that vote passed unanimously.
Not everyone was thrilled about the announcement. Critics of the mega-site had started a “No Megasite” campaign in the area around the site as well as on social media. Man pointed out that the state and county were spending vast amounts of tax payer money to develop a the site while ignoring the dozens of commercial / industrial properties that are sitting empty across the county. Property had to be obtained from over 60 property owners, many of whom did not want to sell. In the end only one person spoke out at the meeting this morning during the public comments section.
Welcome to Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina. ???? Learn more about the new $1.29 billion automotive battery manufacturing plant that will help make the future of electrified mobility a reality: https://t.co/1N8wdK543A. #LetsGoPlaces pic.twitter.com/VffwSTIFdF
— Toyota USA (@Toyota) December 6, 2021
Check out the full story on this week’s edition of the Randolph Hub