Goodyear Close to Announcing Location for New HQ

It appears likely that Goodyear will soon confirm its continued presence in Akron, Ohio with the anticipated signing of a deal to construct a new global headquarters in the city said to be close. The official announcement of Goodyear’s intentions will end several months of speculation as to whether the tyre major will replace its 80 year old premises with another headquarters in Akron or bid its traditional hometown farewell.

During the past few months government and business officials from the town and the state of Ohio have offered Goodyear a host of measures to make remaining in Akron an attractive an option as possible, and while the company has not commented on exactly what has been promised, a company spokesman, Scott Baughman, was quoted in the Akron Beacon Journal as saying Goodyear was “pleased with the progress that has been made with all of the groups involved.”

Local officials are optimistic that Goodyear’s decision will go their way. “I know we’ve been working on it hard and it’s all coming together and [an announcement] shouldn’t be much longer. Everything is working out,” commented Akron City Council president Marco Sommerville in the Akron Beacon Journal. “Things are very optimistic for the city of Akron and Goodyear continuing to stay here with their world headquarters in Akron, Ohio. That’s safe to say.”

It is hoped that a formal announcement on Goodyear’s intentions will be made in the first week of December, and for the city of Akron a decision to remain will more than just an economic bonus. Goodyear’s relationship with Akron dates back to 1898, and the city has also been home to numerous other tyremakers in the last century. Of these companies – including BFGoodrich, Firestone and General Tire Goodyear remains the sole US owned entity and company headquartered there. Losing Goodyear would take away Akron’s final link with its history as the “rubber capital of the world”, as it was once named.