Container Top
Homes   Jobs   Cars   Shopping
Search

Events Calendar

EVENT SEARCH:

In This Section


Most Read Stories


Blogs:


Pets:
First Person: Inside St. Louis Pit Bull Shelter

The Heldenfiles:
Tuesday Notebook

Patrick McManamon:
An interesting thought from a reader

Akron Zips:
Akron vs. Mount Union — Liveblog

Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates

Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback

Kent State Sports:
Flashes interested in another Cincinnati player

Cleveland Cavaliers:
Cavs: Yeah, on That Issue of Privacy

Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes Roll 100-60 / Season Outlook

Varsity Letters:
Twinsburg likes chances, but warns offense needs to deliver

All Da King's Men:
More On The Fort Hood Jihadist

Blog of Mass Destruction:
Simply Incapable of Telling The Truth

Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (63) Commonwealth Fund Report on Primary Care

See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler

Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks

Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing

Ohio Travels with Betty:
Kimberly requests information on living in Columbus, Ohio.

Sound Check:
Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career

HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio

Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets

Akron mayor calls on Bridgestone execs in Japan

By Jim Mackinnon
Beacon Journal business writer

Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic really wants to persuade Japan-based Bridgestone Corp. to keep its technical center and 600-plus high-paying jobs in the Rubber City.

So he has made a pitch to Bridgestone's top executives.

In person.

In Japan.

''We met this (Thursday) morning . . . with Bridgestone Firestone officials here, to just do a courtesy call,'' Plusquellic said. ''We didn't give them the full pitch because we did that to the American leaders.''

Plusquellic and other city officials are on an overseas economic development trip that has included stops in Germany and Shanghai.

Akron is competing against Nashville, Tenn., for the location of a new North America technical center for Bridgestone Firestone.

The tire maker said its current Akron technical center, housed in a massive 1911-built former tire factory, is unsuitable for its needs. The company said it needs a state-of-the-art facility to remain competitive and to attract and retain employees, and wants a new building ready to move into by 2011.

A technical center employee group is expected to make a recommendation by the end of the month to North American executives on whether to stay in Akron or move the facility in the next several years to Tennessee, near corporate headquarters.

Following the submission of official proposals, Akron, Summit County and Ohio officials made a formal presentation to the local Bridgestone Firestone group in March. The Ohio proposal was valued at an estimated $68 million.

A Tennessee contingent made a similar presentation last month but no details were disclosed.

Bridgestone Firestone executives in Nashville will evaluate the local recommendation on where to place a new technical center.

The ultimate decision will be made before the year is over by Bridgestone Corp.'s top leadership in Japan.

Akron is competing against Nashville, Tenn., for the location of a new North America technical center for Bridgestone Firestone. The tire maker says its current Akron technical center is unsuitable for its needs.(Lew Stamp/Akron Beacon Journal)

Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic really wants to persuade Japan-based Bridgestone Corp. to keep its technical center and 600-plus high-paying jobs in the Rubber City.

So he has made a pitch to Bridgestone's top executives.

In person.

In Japan.

''We met this (Thursday) morning . . . with Bridgestone Firestone officials here, to just do a courtesy call,'' Plusquellic said. ''We didn't give them the full pitch because we did that to the American leaders.''

Plusquellic and other city officials are on an overseas economic development trip that has included stops in Germany and Shanghai.

Akron is competing against Nashville, Tenn., for the location of a new North America technical center for Bridgestone Firestone.

The tire maker said its current Akron technical center, housed in a massive 1911-built former tire factory, is unsuitable for its needs. The company said it needs a state-of-the-art facility to remain competitive and to attract and retain employees, and wants a new building ready to move into by 2011.

A technical center employee group is expected to make a recommendation by the end of the month to North American executives on whether to stay in Akron or move the facility in the next several years to Tennessee, near corporate headquarters.

Following the submission of official proposals, Akron, Summit County and Ohio officials made a formal presentation to the local Bridgestone Firestone group in March. The Ohio proposal was valued at an estimated $68 million.

A Tennessee contingent made a similar presentation last month but no details were disclosed.

Bridgestone Firestone executives in Nashville will evaluate the local recommendation on where to place a new technical center.

The ultimate decision will be made before the year is over by Bridgestone Corp.'s top leadership in Japan.



Story tools

Email  Email   Print  Print   Save  Save   Reprint  Reprint   Popular  Most Popular   Reprint  Subscribe

Share this story

AddThis Social Bookmark Button
















Most Commented Stories