Greensboro: Growing up, Devante Cuthbertson thought he had to leave his hometown in North Carolina to pursue a career, but Toyota’s new multibillion-dollar battery plant eluded him.
The 28-year-old from Greensboro, among students in an internship program at Guilford Technical Community College, works three days a week with an automaker looking at future jobs.
But when the Toyota tie came, it was like, wow, maybe North Carolina isn’t so bad.
The United States is seeing a surge in investment as President Joe Biden pushes to rebuild the “vacant” industrial community and develop domestic supply chains in key industries such as electric vehicles (EVs), batteries and semiconductors.
In addition to appealing to blue-collar voters in key states like North Carolina ahead of the November presidential election, Biden aims to challenge the dominance of China’s green technology industry.
A new “battery belt” has been formed, especially in the Southeast, including North Carolina and Georgia, as factories for EV batteries and parts have sprung up.
But it is not clear that Biden is not known for this development.
The boom in union-free areas in the South has put pressure on Biden to follow through on his “good union” promise.
Last August, a coalition of unions and civic groups in Alabama and Georgia sought an “enforceable agreement” with automaker Hyundai to protect workers’ rights.
The partnership for the company’s EV plant and Georgia battery facility requires an investment of $7.6 billion.
Despite some challenges, the job prospects are encouraging for communities, including Greensboro and neighborhoods built on industries such as textiles, tobacco and furniture.
Cuthbertson was working for a laminate flooring manufacturer when he heard Toyota was coming.
People discuss the company “at the grocery store, at school, at work,” he said.
