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By Jim Mackinnon
Beacon Journal business writer
POSTED: 01:11 p.m. EDT, May 01, 2008
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 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.
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