Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg said he met with Bridgestone executives early this month at the state economic and community development offices. They were inquiring about possible sites in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County.
Reportedly, Bridgestone is looking for 35- to 40-acre sites to possibly build a new tech center that would bring 600 jobs paying an average of $60,000-$70,000 a year.
Bragg pitched city-owned property along Medical Center Parkway that has been marketed for corporate headquarters. He said the city has two corporate headquarter sites at 25 acres each and another 40-acre parcel still available.
“We were putting those sites together for possible locations if they wanted to come to Murfreesboro,” Bragg said, “and we would love to have them.”
Pending city council approval, the city could enter into a deal with Bridgestone and give the company the acreage for its facility, he said.
The city entered into a similar deal with the developer of the Embassy Suites conference center and hotel under construction on Medical Center Parkway, Bragg said. The city will get its money back from Embassy Suites in three years from the collection of property and hotel/motel taxes.
The company also is looking at Akron and Nashville for possible sites. An initial decision could be made as early as May. (Tire Review/Akron)
