State promises money to keep 2,000 Bridgestone Americas jobs in Wilson

Bridgestone Americas will keep its tire manufacturing facility in Wilson County, after receiving a grant from the state of North Carolina.

The Wilson County tire plant produces around 35,000 tires per day and employs more than 2,000 people in Wilson County.

The Job Maintenance and Capital Development Investment Fund (JMAC) grant was approved at a state Economic Investment Committee meeting in Raleigh on Tuesday. The grant would be worth a maximum of $30 million over 10 years, if Bridgestone meets certain investment goals.

The Wilson plant, which has been in operation since 1974, is one of the company’s costliest operations in its supply chain, and the company told the state that a grant would be vital to lower its operating costs there to remain competitive. This is the second time the company has asked for a JMAC grant.

Bridgestone will invest more than $266 million in improvements to the plant as part of the grant. The average wage at the plant is around $64,000, which is higher than the county average of around $42,000. The company must maintain a wage of $59,000 and invest at least $150 million to keep the grant. The grant term is from 2018 to 2027.

The company could receive as much as $3 million per year from the state under the agreement.

Bridgestone plans to replace obsolete tire machines and upgrade its operating systems with the money it invests in the factory. The company said the grant will be used to hire, train and retain a skilled workforce.

This story was originally published October 23, 2018 at 11:29 AM.