Akron Prepping Incentives to Keep BFNAT Tech Center

Reacting to Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire’s stated desire to upgrade its research and development facilities in the U.S., city, county and state officials in Ohio are working to develop an incentive package designed to keep those operations in Akron.

Published: February 14, 2008

Last month, BFNAT announced that it wanted a new technical center and were considering three options: invest millions in rehabbing its nearly century old current facility at the old Firestone world headquarters in south Akron, or build new facilities in either Akron or Nashville.

Mayor Don Plusquellic said earlier this week that Akron plans to present its proposal within the next two months.

It is not known what incentives Nashville may be prepared to offer. BFNAT is already headquartered there, as it its parent Bridgestone America Holdings.

BFNAT employs some 1,000 people in Akron, including 600 at its technical center.

The tiremaker expects to make its decision on the location by the end of this year. (Tire Review/Akron)

Gallery: Turbo Wholesale Tire open house

Highlights from this year’s annual Turbo Wholesale Tires open house event, which featured a trade show, dinner and buyers event.

By Christian Hinton

Published: May 15, 2024

Turbo Wholesale Tires recently held its annual open house event, where it introduced the new Lexani Volt-EC EV tire. However, as any of the hundreds of people in attendance will tell you, the event included much more than a tire launch. After registration, guests entered Turbo's new tire-filled warehouse, with half the space set aside for the tire companies and dealers, food and drinks, games and stage with a nearby pile of 89 prizes worth over $25,000.