US State Adds Tax Break to Keep BFNAT Centre

The US state of Ohio has granted some $18 million in tax breaks in an effort to convince Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire to keep its technical centre in Akron. In the deal, BFNAT would pay a reduced state commercial activity tax for 15 years in exchange for a commitment that the tyremaker would remain in Akron for at least 18 years.

The city of Akron, the state and Summit County have been working to assemble a financial incentive package to help keep BFNAT’s 600-employee technical center in Akron. The tiremaker is also considering a site in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, south of its Nashville headquarters, for a new facility.

Earlier this year, BFNAT announced that it was seeking a new home for its technical centre, currently housed in a nearly 100-year-old building that once served as the world headquarters of the Firestone TIre & Rubber Co. (Tire Review/Akron)