When Lordstown Motors, an electric vehicles (EV) manufacturer in Ohio’s Mahoning Valley, declared bankruptcy last month, it was another setback for the region that has been plagued by broken promises. The company had vowed to create 5,000 new jobs in 2020, raising hopes for the local economy and the once-thriving General Motors Lordstown plant. The region had even rebranded itself as “Voltage Valley” in anticipation of an EV revolution. However, Lordstown Motors’ failure and subsequent lawsuit against its major investor, Foxconn, have dampened the region’s prospects. This has left many residents skeptical and weary of promises made by big companies.
Despite the skepticism, some local leaders remain optimistic that Foxconn, which is now attempting to expand autonomous tractor production and attract a different EV startup, will save the Lordstown plant. The mayor of Lordstown is confident that Foxconn will be successful and continue to operate in the area. Additionally, there are other new employers in the region, such as a GM-LG Corporation partnership that built an EV battery plant employing about 1,300 people, and a new TJX warehouse that has hired around 1,000 workers. Nonetheless, some residents in nearby Warren have lost faith in big companies and remain skeptical of the promises being made.
While Warren’s downtown area is currently flourishing, the city still bears the scars of the decline of the rust belt, with vacant industrial buildings and blighted neighborhoods. The Lordstown plant, which used to employ 11,000 people at its peak, closed in 2018, leading to a significant drop in employment numbers in the county. Some residents still hold onto a glimmer of hope that GM will repurchase the plant due to its proximity to an EV battery factory. However, local labor leaders have shifted their attention to GM’s Ultium electric-vehicle plant and express concern over safety issues and low wages. The region’s economic future remains uncertain, and while some job openings exist, turnover is high, indicating that enthusiasm for employment in the area has waned.
Over the years, politicians have made promises that have left locals disappointed. Despite the promises made by Barack Obama and Donald Trump to revive the region, little progress has been made. The failure to bring meaningful change to the area played a role in Trump’s victory in the 2016 election. The Mahoning Valley has a history of broken promises, from the closure of steel plants in 1977 to unsuccessful ventures like the Avanti car company and touted 3D-printing technology. Therefore, the skepticism and lack of faith in big companies in the area are rooted in decades of unfulfilled promises.
In summary, Lordstown Motors’ bankruptcy and legal battle with Foxconn have further eroded the hopes and prospects of the Mahoning Valley region. Despite some local leaders remaining optimistic and pointing to other new employers in the area, many residents are disillusioned and skeptical of promises made by big companies. The decline of the area’s industrial past and the failure of previous revitalization efforts have left the community cautious about the future.