Bridgestone committee recommends Akron not Murfreesboro on The Murfreesboro Post

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Bridgestone committee recommends Akron not Murfreesboro

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Posted: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 3:20 pm

UPDATE: The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that a committee of Bridgestone Americas employees is recommending keeping the tiremaker's tech center in Akron, Ohio.

The recommendation is still pending a final approval by corporate officials.

The announcement was made this afternoon in Akron at an event attended by Bridgestone Americas Chairman and Chief Executive Mark Emkes, Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic and Summit County Executive Russ Pry.

A quick check of Murfreesboro area officials indicated no specific information from Bridgestone concerning today's event or any potenial announcement.

The event will be held at 3 p.m. event at Bridgestone Americas Center for Research & Technology off South Main Street.

Murfreesboro was chosen as the final competitor with Akron for the technology center that would employ some 600 at an annual average salary of $70,000.

Murfreesboro has offered to give Bridgestone a prime site in the Gateway development area along with other state incentives.

Ohio at the first of the month came forward with an additional $18 million in tax breaks to keep the tech center in Akron, resulting in a total package estimated at $68 million.

Click here to see the story from The Plain Dealer.

Tagged under BRIDGESTONE

Member Opinions:

By: Wil2hike on 7/29/08
Good report - huge local interest -didn't see this anywhere on the DNJeesean

By: HuskyLover on 7/29/08
. I said it a week or so ago. The tech center is staying in Akron and it will be announced today.

Honestly, I really didn't see nearly enough enthusiasm from M'boro officials on this. Seems like they were - and still are - much for excited about that stupid Bible Park

By: HuskyLover on 7/29/08
In fact, this is where I said it first:

http://www.murfreesboropost.com/news.php?viewStory=11984

By: mikepirtle on 7/29/08
HuskyLover:

Sorry about the confusion. We were working on the Plain Dealer report when you posted regarding a "blog."

Not realizing you were actually referring to the Plain Dealer, we killed your post as blogs are often not correct.

Good job, keeping on top of it.

On another note, Murfreesboro officials and Chamber folks especially have been quite enthusiastic about the Bridgestone possibility all along and have spoken repeatedly about the exciting prospects.

But, I suspect they knew all along it would be difficult to pull the center out of Akron.

Thanks for your input,

Mike Pirtle, The Post

By: HuskyLover on 7/29/08
Thanks for the feedback, Mike. This subject is obvisouly of very high interest to me and it was frustrating to see my posts disappear.

Thanks for reactivating my account, too...

By: prorutherford321 on 7/30/08
Ms Weber, the Chamber, the City, the State and everyone involved did an exceptional job
of trying to bring this Corporate relocation to Murfreesboro. Thanks to all of you for your efforts and please keep them up. One door closes and another opens.