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Firestone Agricultural Tire To Build New Global Distribution Center
Center will be the first project built
in Polk County’s new economic development area
NASHVILLE,
Tenn. (Feb. 4, 2003) – Firestone Agricultural Tire Division
(FSAG) announced today that it will build a new state-of-the-art global
distribution center in Des Moines, Iowa. Ground breaking on the 850,000-square
foot warehouse facility is set to begin in the spring of 2003. This
will truly be a global distribution center; FSAG distributes its products
to more than 70 countries worldwide. This will be the first industrial
project built in Polk County’s newly created economic development
area off of interstate 35 near NE 66th Avenue.
“We are very excited about this
project,” said Ralph Burchfield, President of Firestone Agricultural
Division. “This is a winner, both for our company and the community.
This global distribution center will improve our operations and help
us toward our goals of growing the business.
“Hopefully, it will also jump
start business growth in this newly created economic development area.
We’re honored to be the first ones to commit to build a project
on the site,” Burchfield concluded.
The new global distribution center
will be located on 70 acres of land just south of 66th Avenue between
NE 14th Street and 22nd Avenue. Panattoni Development Company of Sacramento,
Calif. will construct the new facility which, is expected to generate
$10 million to $12 million dollars in business for local contractors
in Central Iowa.
The project is expected to be completed in the first
quarter of 2004. Panattoni recently constructed a tire distribution
center for Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC in Lebanon,
Tenn.
By ordinance, all companies located in this economic
development area may be granted real estate tax incentives. In addition,
Polk County has agreed to some infrastructure improvements that in include
widening of 66th avenue and providing sanitary sewer and water to the
site.
“Polk County, the state of Iowa and the Greater
Partnership of Des Moines have all worked with our company to help us
put all the pieces of this project together,” Burchfield said.
“This is a great example of the private sector working together
with government and community agencies to bring about progress.”
Firestone Agricultural Tires Division manufactures and markets tires
for agricultural, forestry and industrial uses throughout North and
South America and exports products to 70 countries around the globe.
It is a division of Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire. , LLC.
Nashville-based Bridgestone America’s Holding,
Inc. (BAH) is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s
largest tire and rubber company. BAH, through its subsidiaries, develops,
manufactures and markets a wide range of tires to address the needs
of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial
vehicle original equipment manufacturers and those in the agricultural,
forestry and mining industries. The companies also produce Firestone
air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber, and industrial fibers
and textiles and operate the world’s largest chain of automotive
service centers.
Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC.,
a subsidiary of BAH, develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone,
Firestone, Dayton and private and associate brands tires. The company
is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger,
light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road agriculture and other tires
to its customers in North America.
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