TCAT appoints new leader for future Ford Blue Oval City campus

Tennessee College of Applied Technology Jackson announced Wednesday that Heath R. Mcmillian will serve as executive vice president of the college’s future Blue Oval City campus.

Mcmillian, currently executive director of economic and workforce development at Northeast State Community College, will assume his new duties May 9. In his new role, Mcmillian will help lead development of the new campus and its programs and curriculum, according to a news release.

The new $40 million TCAT campus will be adjacent to Ford’s $5.6 billion Blue Oval City electric vehicle assembly plant at the megasite in Stanton. The campus will serve as Ford’s primary training center and for its suppliers that are expected to locate near the plant.

Ford officials, along with South Korean company SK On, announced plans in September for a $5.6 billion project to produce electric trucks and electric vehicle batteries at a 4,100-acre site in Stanton. The project is expected to create about 5,800 jobs.

Land leveling work at the site is ongoing with construction expected to formally begin later this year.

TCAT Jackson and the college’s new Blue Oval City Campus are part of the state’s public community and technical college system — The College System of Tennessee, governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Omer Yusuf covers the Ford project in Haywood County, residential real estate, tourism and banking for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached via email Omer.yusuf@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @Omerayusuf.