The Bridgestone/Firestone project came together only after the company struck a deal that included a $68 million public financing package from the state, county and city. There are also federal stimulus dollars involved, for nearby infrastructure repairs.
The 260,000-square-foot new tech center along South Main Street maintains the company's 110-year presence in the city. Though it still manufacturers racing tires locally, Firestone merged with Bridgestone in 1988 and moved it's Rubber City headquarters to Nashville four years later.
More importantly, as Congressman Tim Ryan put it - it helps place a stopper over the so-called Brain Drain.
TIM RYAN
"Young people who have left this community want to come back here, and to see these jobs open up, these high-tech, well-paying jobs open up here, gives these young people an opportunity to come back to where they grew up."
(Sounds of ground breaking, "1,2,3 - shovels of dirt dumped on carpet)
Shoveling away the frozen earth alongside Ryan were Governor Strickland and Lt. Governor Fisher, Congresswoman Betty Sutton, Summit County Executive Russ Pry, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, and the CEO's and top executives from both Bridgestone's Nashville and Tokyo Headquarters.
To Akron, the groundbreaking is tangible proof that this $100 million project is real -- that 1,000 jobs have been prevented from leaving town -- and as County Executive Pry says -- that Akron - has turned the corner.
RUSS PRY:
"The investment that Bridgestone makes shows the rest of the country and the rest of the world... Summit County and Akron is a great place to come and do business."
Bridgestone hopes workers will be in the building by late 2011.
