Akron Proposal to Bridgestone/Firestone

A few months ago [fluggart.com], I posted that Bridgestone Firestone was trying to decide what to do with its North American technical center. The three options that are currently on the table are: an extensive renovation of the current facilities, building a brand-new facility in Akron, OH (where it is currently located), or building a brand-new facility near Nashville (where the corporate headquarters for the North American division are located). The decision is to be announced later this year.

While we were in Berlin, it was announced that the city of Akron (together with the county and state) has presented its proposal [ohio.com] for incentives to be given to Bridgestone Firestone to keep its technical center in Akron. Here are some selected quotes from the article:

"State of Ohio, Akron and Summit County officials made an estimated $68 million pitch Wednesday to persuade Bridgestone Firestone Inc. to keep its technical center and 600-plus high-paying jobs in the city."

"The proposal would have the Summit County Port Authority owning a state-of-the-art technical center building at one of two locations in the city and leasing the building to Bridgestone Firestone at what County Executive Russ Pry said would be favorable rates."

"The city could end up buying the current Firestone Parkway technical center building for as much as $5 million, he said."

"The scope of the proposal is not the same as the nearly $900 million East Akron redevelopment project that involves building new global and North American headquarters for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Pry said."