TMP Staff Reports-July 15, 2008
Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 12:53 pm

Bridgestone officials are expected to make a decision soon on a site to locate a $100 million technical center, according to published reports.

The tire maker could make its decision between a parcel in the Murfreesboro Gateway Center or a site in Okron, Ohio within the next several weeks, reported GlobeSt.com

Holly Weber, vice president for economic development at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, couldn't provide any updates on the project early Tuesday afternoon.

Bridgestone reportedly is looking to construct a 600,000-to-one-million-square-foot facility.

State and local officials in Ohio have put together a $68 million incentive package to keep the company’s jobs in the area. An $18 million tax credit, part of the package, was approved by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority recently.

Murfreesboro is offering Bridgestone a 41-acre site on Garrison Drive across the street from the under construction Murfreesboro Medical Clinic at no cost.

Other possible economic incentives are not being released by state or local officials.

Bridgestone hopes to break ground on the new facility in 2009 and move in the next year. The facility could bring some 600 high-tech jobs to the area.