SWTDD Executive Director Joe W. Barker Selected to Represent West TN Mayors at Blue Oval City Events
Story by: SWTDD
In a joint announcement on Friday, May 20, at the Southwest Tennessee Development District, the West Tennessee City Mayors Association and the West Tennessee County Mayors Association announced that each body had separately voted to request an appointee to serve as a local government representative to attend Blue Oval City meetings, announcements, and events. Both organizations selected SWTDD Executive Director Joe W. Barker for this pro-active position to help better prepare the rural cities and counties for the opportunities and challenges that will come with Blue Oval City.
“The city mayors collectively recognize the importance of taking steps now to prepare our communities to share in the regional benefits of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said City of Henderson Mayor Bobby King, who made the motion to request adding a local government liaison for Blue Oval City to the West Tennessee City Mayors Association at its April meeting. King’s motion passed unanimously. “Having a specific point person will help all West Tennessee mayors better know what could most benefit our respective communities, provide pertinent information from the BOC meetings, illuminate hurdles that need to be jumped, get questions answered, and keep us collectively abreast of developments that could impact our schools, workforce, and the quality of life in our communities.”
“By looking at the differences in Middle Tennessee since OEMs located in Spring Hill and Smyrna, we can know that each and every county in West Tennessee will benefit because of Blue Oval City’s presence and investment in our region,” said Hardeman County Mayor Jimmy Sain and SWTDD chairman of the board. “Suppliers will be locating in our counties, employees will be driving to Blue Oval City from our counties, and these employees will bring the wages earned through these high quality jobs back to our communities.”
“Collaboration that leads to preparation has never been more important for the leaders in West Tennessee. Because Joe Barker already has working relationships with the leadership of all rural counties in West Tennessee – as well as relationships with state and federal agencies – he is the ideal person to keep the information flowing and this will help us create opportunities for our counties, so all counties can reap the benefits of this incredible opportunity,” continued Sain.
“I am looking forward to serving in this capacity. Having served as both the Mayor of Savannah and as the Hardin County Mayor, I know that opportunities can best be created at the local level through forward-thinking, strategic planning, and execution of those plans,” said Joe W. Barker, SWTDD executive director. “My goal is to keep information flowing to all West Tennessee mayors so that, as Blue Oval City is being built, leaders can address the areas in their communities and counties that will best position them to benefit.
“I will send information, work with our Development Districts in coordinating regional projects, communicate specific needs, and help as needed to assist cities and counties get prepared for the transformation of West Tennessee through the Megasite and Blue Oval City,” Barker continued. “Some of these hurdles will take months and possibly years to get in place; this collaboration will help leaders make informed decisions for the coming days, months, and years. This truly is such an exciting time for this entire region and I look forward to the great opportunities Blue Oval City will provide to all cities, counties, and residents in West Tennessee!”
