MECOSTA COUNTY, Mich. — American flags and "No Gotion" signs were scattered throughout the backyard of Lori Brock's horse farm on Wednesday.
"We have a huge lineup of people that are supporting us and our fight here, and I couldn't be more proud and more humbled as well," said Brock.
She, along with other neighbors in Green Charter Township, have been working to keep Gotion, and VP of North American Operations Chuck Thelen, from building a $2 billion electric vehicle battery plant across the street.
The company says they plan to bring more than 2,000 jobs to the rural community, with the hiring process already underway.
"Look at the support here, this is why I'm doing it," said Thelen. "People ask me, why would you bring something like that to this community, it's because I love the community and I had the opportunity to marry a good company with a good community, and it was a no-brainer for me. I brought it here to help people I never met before."
Thelen and other pro-Gotion supporters could be seen with their own signs at the entrance of Brock's farm.
"We need jobs that provide middle-class wages, and Gotion can do that and will do that for us," said Gotion supporter Tracy Ruell. "I think we need to get to a point in time where we start focusing on the project and making sure it's the most successful and the safest project that will benefit our community."
Taking the stage on the "no Gotion" side was Republican Mike Rogers, who is running for the open Senate seat against Democrat Elissa Slotkin.
"I've never seen something that divides a community like this in a way that it's not good for America in so many ways," said Rogers on stage.
The former congressman and current senate candidate touched on popular talking points against the plant, including environmental concerns and the company's connection to the Chinese Communist Party, something Thelen has denied in the past.
"This benefits China, this doesn't benefit our community," said Rogers. "They're going to go to the courts, but we have other ways that we can stop this plant."