Goodyear plans to hire 87 new workers as part of an expansion to its east Gadsden tire plant. The Gadsden city council this week approved tax abatements on more than $30 million the company plans to invest in the project. This includes non-educational property taxes and sales taxes.
Goodyear estimates some $17 million of that amount would normally be subjected to those taxes. The work on the project began in September. Construction of the 7,500 square foot expansion is expected to be complete in 2016. A news release from the Gadsden-Etowah County Industrial Development Authority says the investment and expansion will allow the company to produce more “high complexity manufactured consumer tires,” as well as rubber products to be sent to the Goodyear Commercial Products Division.
The East Gadsden plant opened in October 1929 and currently employs 1,400 people. It makes original equipment tires for automakers like Ford and Chrysler.