Nearly 18 months after announcing it was keeping its North American technical center in Akron, Bridgestone Americas finally broke ground on the $100 million project.
In one of his last official acts before retiring at the end of this month, Bridgestone Americas chairman, CEO and president Mark Emkes, called the Feb. 18 event a great day for the company and the city.
“From the first non-skid tread to the Firestone balloon tire, some of the world’s most creative, innovative concepts in the tire industry have come from behind these doors and down the street at our technical center,” he said. “There is no better place to continue our proud tradition of innovation than right here in Akron.”
On hand for the formal ground breaking were a long list of state, local and corporate dignitaries, including Ohio Governor Ted Strickland; Lt. Governor Lee Fisher; U.S. Representatives Betty Sutton and Tim Ryan of Ohio; Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic; Summit County Executive Russ Pry; Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations chairman, CEO and president Asahiko Nishiyama; Yasutaka Enoki, Bridgestone executive vice president of research and development; Bob Handlos, Bridgestone vice president of product development; and Christine Karbowiak, executive vice president of community and corporate relations.
“Bridgestone Americas is an iconic Ohio company that helped shape Akron’s history of innovation and manufacturing and will be a vital partner in strengthening Northeast Ohio’s economic future,” Governor Strickland said. “I believe in Ohio because of great companies like Bridgestone Americas that are innovating and creating jobs while demonstrating pride and passion for their work and their community.”
In July 2008 the company announced it would build the center in Akron after receiving bids from the city as well as its corporate home of Nashville, Tenn. The new facility is expected to be complete at the end of 2011.
