Chinese manufacturing meets Small Town, USA

This episode of "The Sunday Story" from NPR's Planet Money delves into the controversy surrounding a Chinese company, Goshen, attempting to build a battery factory in Green Charter Township, Michigan. The story explores how a project intended to revitalize the economically struggling town instead ignited a political firestorm, dividing the community over environmental concerns, skepticism about the quality of jobs, and fears of Chinese influence. The narrative follows the rise of the "No-Gos," a grassroots movement that successfully recalled local government officials who supported the project, highlighting the challenges of bringing manufacturing back to the US amid local opposition and geopolitical tensions. The episode also contrasts this situation with another town, Mentino, Illinois, where a Goshen factory is being built despite ongoing local tensions, illustrating the complexities of reconciling global economic ambitions with small-town democracy.