Officials express regret over Bridgestone decision

By: TMP Staff Reports-July 29, 2008
Posted: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 3:16 pm

The city of Murfreesboro failed to secure a Bridgestone technical center despite being one of two finalists.

Bridgestone Americans announced Tuesday afternoon that it had elected to build a state-of-the-art technical center in Akron, Ohio near its existing research center.

“While we are disappointed that the company did not choose the Murfreesboro Gateway as their final location, we applaud the city of Akron and the state of Ohio for retaining such a fine company”, said Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg. Ohio offered Bridgestone an economic development package estimated at $68 million. Tennessee officials wouldn’t release the incentives offered to the company.

The technical center employs 600.The city of Murfreesboro, State of Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development, the Rutherford County Industrial Development Board, Rutherford County Government, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and Middle Tennessee State University worked very aggressively through site selection, education initiatives and incentive negotiation to secure this project on a specific site within the Murfreesboro Gateway, local officials said.

“It is always difficult to compete against the home-team advantage,” said Holly S. Weber, vice president of economic development, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, “the city of Murfreesboro, State Economic Development, MTSU along with our department worked aggressively and presented a sound economic package, which included incentives involving land, tax abatements, infrastructure, training and relocation costs.” More here.