Fort Worth loses Rivian, but city says its effort shows it can compete for big projects
Electric truck maker Rivian made it official Thursday, announcing it will build a battery and truck manufacturing plant in Georgia instead of Fort Worth.
The city had offered Rivian a $440 million incentive package to set up near the recently developed Walsh community in west Fort Worth. The factory will be in Stanton Springs, Georgia, 35 miles northeast of Atlanta.
Details of Georgia’s incentive package were not immediately available, but a press release distributed shortly after the announcement highlighted workforce training programs spearheaded by the Technical College System of Georgia.
The office of Gov. Brian Kemp also cited the recent formation of the Electric Mobility and Innovation Alliance, built to support the growth of the state’s electric car industry. Neither Fort Worth nor the state of Texas have a similar entity.
AllianceTexas has the Mobility Innovation Zone, however this serves more as a proving ground for autonomous delivery drone and trucking technology.
City leaders were quick to point out the positives of the snub.
Being selected as a finalist proves Fort Worth has what businesses are looking for when considering where to relocate, Mayor Mattie Parker wrote in a statement emailed to the Star-Telegram.
Parker praised the partnership between the city’s economic development department, Walsh Companies, the chamber of commerce and Tarrant and Parker counties for their efforts to attract Rivian.
“One of our goals when working on projects is to develop strong relationships with companies, and Fort Worth has built a very strong, positive relationship with Rivian,” said Robert Sturns, the city’s Director of Economic Development.
Courting Rivian was the largest economic development project the city has ever worked on, according to Sturns. Being a finalist for the Amazon-backed electric truck maker proves Fort Worth can be competitive for the next big project, Sturns said.
The Walsh family is still committed to bringing a company that will have a positive effect on west Fort Worth, said Greg Miller, a spokesperson for Walsh Companies.
Rivian would have set up shop on 2,000 acres south of Interstate 20.
The Walsh area was a candidate for Amazon’s HQ2 before it was a contender for Rivian. Miller said being a finalist shows the area’s strong potential.
The city also announced last week Nevada-based MP Materials would open a magnet factory in Alliance. It will produce magnets for General Motors’ fleet of electric cars and is expected to bring 100 full-time jobs to Fort Worth.
Parker said the Rivian courtship validated Fort Worth’s competitiveness when it comes to attracting major projects.
“I look forward to the increase in interest and opportunities this will bring to Fort Worth,” she wrote.
.jpg)