Posted January 31, 200817 yr Here we go again!! :-o http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/15077966.html Bridgestone Firestone investigates new center; move possible By Jim Mackinnon/Beacon Journal business writer POSTED: 04:14 p.m. EST, Jan 31, 2008 Bridgestone Firestone wants a new, world-class technical center — and that could mean moving its Akron facility to Tennessee, taking 1,000-plus jobs with it. But the tire maker also may decide to renovate its existing technical center, now housed in a building constructed in 1911, or build a new Akron-area facility. The Akron technical center is where Bridgestone Firestone builds race tires and does design, technical and related work for its other tires. CHOPPED
February 2, 200817 yr Just when we exhaled after Goodyear decided to stay, Bridgeston/Firestone is now looking to possibly leave town. Hope the city, county, and state can pull another deal to keep these jobs in Akron.
February 2, 200817 yr Sounds like a me-too deal. Still, I hope Akron can fight to keep these jobs. BTW, audidave, I see you posted the same article twice in the same message. I do it too sometimes. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 4, 200817 yr It would be really ballsy - and cool - if Akron and the OH powers that be went after TN with all guns a blazin'....and not only got this tech center to stay...but also got the ENTIRE HQ to come back where it belongs and abandon Nashville. I say show them the incentives. Like good old Daniel Burnham said..."make no small plans."
March 28, 200817 yr $68 million! That's quite the extortion... I think Akron should call Firestone's bluff. Enough with the corporate welfare. Once you get a reputation for handing out huge incentive packages... everybody starts looking for handouts under the threat of relocation http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/03/bridgestone_firestone_offered.html Bridgestone Firestone offered $68 million to stay in Akron Posted by Shaheen Samavati March 27, 2008 19:04PM Local and state government officials are hoping that $68 million is enough to convince Bridgestone Firestone to keep 629 jobs in Akron. That's the value of an incentive package Ohio, Summit County and Akron officials presented to the tire company Wednesday. The goal is for the company to keep its technical center, where it tests and designs tires, in town. The proposal includes plans to build a new technical center in Akron that the Summit County Port Authority would own and lease to Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC. Local governments have been working on crafting a collaborative incentive package since learning last fall about the company's intentions either to remodel its technical center on South Main Street or to build a new one -- either in Akron or in Nashville.
July 29, 200816 yr Marvin Fong/Plain Dealer file Keep tech center in Akron, Bridgestone committee recommends Posted by rmezger July 29, 2008 15:23PM Bridgestone Firestone's outdated Technical Center was built in Akron in 1911. The company plans to build a new center in Akron or Tennessee. A committee of Bridgestone Americas employees has recommended that the tire company keep its technical center in Akron rather than move it near Nashville, the company's headquarters city. http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/07/a_committee_of_bridgestone_ame.html
July 29, 200816 yr Quote:$68 million! That's quite the extortion... I think Akron should call Firestone's bluff. The lobbying firm I interned for the past two years, The Success Group, is helping on this project (hired by the corporate parties). I can't say much but I will tell you it is not a bluff, they will leave if they dont get the love. I will also say the President of TSG, Dan McCarthy, who is an Ak native (might have heard of his dad...) and he is on the phone all the time with Pisquellic to try and make this happen and not fleece the tax payers. I know from the outside it seems like these companies are trying to get off easy but atleast in this case I can vouche that the parties involved are trying to make this happen and happen with benifits to all involved. This whole deal is AK insider people so hopefully they can pull it off.
July 29, 200816 yr HORRAY!! :clap: :clap: This is HUGE!!!! I think $68 million is a small price to pay! It's a combined incentive package and works out to a bit over $100K incentive for every employee. They are white collar jobs, and this will pay back in a hurry for the Gov't parties involved. Hopefully the company agrees to the recommendation and Akron can hold onto what little remains of the Rubber Industry! Awesome, Awesome news!!!
July 30, 200816 yr This is a move that says Bridgestone/Firestone believes that Akron is still viable and has a bright future. It says that the company has been serviced well by it's suppliers and vendors in this area. And it is a huge ego boost to the city and it's residents. This means new construction and I'm sure that area companies will be contracted. It will be a face lift and boost for South Akron, as well. How many good things can I possible say about this? I'm willing to bet that there will be at-least a slight increase in employment at the new center before it's all over. Way to go Akron!! Woo hoo!
July 30, 200816 yr Company plans to build next to existing research center in South Akron By Jim Mackinnon Beacon Journal staff writer POSTED: 02:52 p.m. EDT, Jul 29, 2008 The world's largest tire maker is keeping its sizable presence in Akron. Bridgestone Americas this afternoon said it wants to build a state-of-the-art technical center in Akron on property next to its existing research center off South Main Street, across from Firestone Stadium. The company in a news release that the 240,000-square-foot building would represent a ‘‘combined private and public investment of more than $100 million.’’ Construction is to begin in early 2010 and be completed by the end of 2012. The announcement this afternoon to accept Ohio's estimated $68 million economic development package was made during Bridgestone Firestone's 20th anniversary celebration of Japan-based Bridgestone Corp. buying Akron's Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. The corporate marriage evolved into the largest global tire maker. MORE: http://www.ohio.com
July 30, 200816 yr Not to sound pessimistic, but of course the workers voted to keep the status quo for the company's jobs. The comment about still being subject to corporate approval disturbs me.
July 30, 200816 yr Not to sound pessimistic, but of course the workers voted to keep the status quo for the company's jobs. The comment about still being subject to corporate approval disturbs me. Did you read the prior stories on this? The commission wasn't as biased as you make it out to be. They used business-only criteria.
July 30, 200816 yr Yeah, good for Akron. They just had a story on the Nashville local news about how it was another blow to Nashville's struggling economy. I had to chuckle a little.
July 31, 200816 yr Yeah, good for Akron. They just had a story on the Nashville local news about how it was another blow to Nashville's struggling economy. I had to chuckle a little. Which station?
July 31, 200816 yr Not to sound pessimistic, but of course the workers voted to keep the status quo for the company's jobs. The comment about still being subject to corporate approval disturbs me. I have been fairly and cautiously confident that Akron would secure the deal. Anytime a decision like this is made, it is about dollars and cents. I guarantee you that the decision was purely based on what was right for the company. My cautious confidence was based on the following: The company's cost of moving expenses for that many employees. These employees aren't replaceable. The cost of moving tools and equipment such a distance. The cost of shipping supplies from area vendors to The Nashville Area with fuel prices pushing up shipping charges. The quality of the well trained and experienced suppliers in this area would probably eliminate any consideration of searching for new ones nearby in that area. The proximity to the Auto Industry has to be a plus. I'm also sure they considered the PR issues of ripping the final leg of the entire company out of The Akron-Canton Metro Area. You're taling over 1 million pissed off tire Customers and Repair Shop Customers, who would probably never spend a dime with that company again. Add in some positive points about the area: Goodyear's 1 billion dollar investment, Akron U's recent and continuing 1 billion dollar investment and the recent and continuing 1/2 billion dollar investment from area hospitals are painting a bright future for the area. B&W is expanding and proximity to Akron's research and development in Polymers may be a strategic move as well. I can imagine the use of polymers in tires in the future. The range of uses for polymers are already amazing. The Firestone Invitational is in Akron and Akron is offering a sweet package with economic might in combination with the state and county that probably couldn't be matched by a small city like Murfreesboro.
July 31, 200816 yr Also the top brass are golf crazy and it would be hard to have a Bridgestone tournament in Akron when you've pretty much moseyed off to Tennesee. I'm kind of surprised that the expected amount going into the new building is only $100 million. There seems to be a plan in the works to "revitalize" Firestone Park/South Akron area as part of this agreement with Akron. Hopefully thats included in the $68 million. OK, next big project announcement in Akron to look forward to should be a new hotel with or without an arena attached to it. With Firestone staying, that should be enough to tilt the need for a 2nd hotel in downtown.
August 12, 200816 yr Summit County to chip in $7.3 million for new technical center for Bridgestone Firestone Posted by Associated Press August 12, 2008 09:31AM Categories: Autos, Manufacturing AKRON -- Summit County will contribute $7.3 million to help Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire build a new research and development center in Akron. http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/08/summit_county_to_chip_in_73_mi.html
September 17, 200816 yr Update courtesy of the Akron News Now.. aka Rubber City Radio.. http://www.akronnewsnow.com/business/itemdetail.asp?ID=24738§ion=business&subsection=generalbusiness&title=AUDIO_Bridgestone_Firestone_CEO_Addresses_Akr Bridgestone-Firestone Americas President and CEO Mark Emkes was the keynote speaker today at the World Tire Conference in Akron. As for the Akron technical center, Emkes says negotiations are progressing smoothly to get the technical center built here in Akron and he says by the end of the year, the deal should be wrapped up. He says he's looking forward to developing the neighborhood around the technical center as well. Emkes revealed to Akron News Now that plans for the neighborhood include a retail complex of an undetermined amount of stores directly across the street from the new technical center, and development of a park and soccer fields. The Bridgestone Firestone CEO says there are currently no plans for a hotel as part of the development. He says that could change only if downtown and other area hotels were operating at their capacity and more hotel rooms were needed.
August 9, 201014 yr The buidling looks like it going up very quick! It seems like everytime I drive by there another wall has gone up. It will be exciting to see how this looks. I noticed they finally have a rendering posted on the fense around the construction. I will try to get a picture sometime this week and post it on here soon!
August 13, 201014 yr I'm going to have to get to the Syracuse game REALLY early so I can walk around the city and see all the new construction! I was on Campus last week and I noticed that just South of Summa, between Market and Buchtel somebody has purchased a bunch of houses on Spruce Street and Franklin street. Anybody know what is going on there? both blocks are almost vacant. I didn't even think about looking at the new Bridgestone construction. I did drive through the Goodyear HQ on Market and I don't see a whole lot going on down there though the exit from 76 to Martha is closed. I haven't walked around the city in about a year but it seems like so much has changed. Lock 3, new polymer building, 22 exchange, Bridgestone, new soccer stadium. There is just construction all over the place!
August 14, 201014 yr Yeah I'm not sure whats going on between Spruce St. and Franklin, but I hope they do something nice with it. That area along with the area south of Exchange St. is my least favorite part of the city. It would be nice to see those old homes get torn down and new developments/residences go in. Zipsrifle I agree the construction around the city is awesome. I can't wait until they finish renovating the Y-bridge and finish construction on the Mill St. bridge. The city is going to look amazing in five years from now.
August 15, 201014 yr I work not too far from the project. Its coming along nicely. Cant wait to drive down main st after its reconstruction (widening) and see a walkbridge from a parking deck to the new Bridgestone Tech center. The city is trying to make the neighborhood better as well. I've noticed they are boarding up some low income apartments in the area and I also heard something to the effect that they would like to see a hotel put close by. Not sure exactly where though. I wonder what will come of the old tech center. The firestone complex is huge and has alot of empty land. I'd like to see all that land turn into housing. perhaps create a new neighborhood or so.
August 23, 201014 yr Wow..I like this. I like the whole walkway up the hill. Could become a community gathering place. Does anyone know what the red buildings are? Retail or apartments? Or even a hotel that I've heard about. There are houses, an auto repair shop, a bar, a family dollar and a used car dealer there as of right now. Looks like they may be gutting that lil area there.
August 23, 201014 yr Wow..I like this. I like the whole walkway up the hill. Could become a community gathering place. Does anyone know what the red buildings are? Retail or apartments? Or even a hotel that I've heard about. There are houses, an auto repair shop, a bar, a family dollar and a used car dealer there as of right now. Looks like they may be gutting that lil area there. I would guess that it would be mixed use, retail and housing.
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