BFGoodrich’s Expansion Plan could Create Over 35 New Jobs

About 35 new jobs are coming to Allen County, Indiana once the multimillion-dollar expansion plan of BFGoodrich, an American tire manufacturer since 1896, is approved. The company has submitted its tax abatement application for its expansion plan worth $77 million to Allen County officials. The Allen County council said that deliberation is scheduled for Thursday. Goodrich explained that the company is aiming to expand its tire production by installing additional equipment at its 50-year-old plant in Woodburn. The expansion plan also includes adding 7,500 square feet to its current facility, setting-up a 1,000-square-foot locker room and building a substation and a cooling tower. Goodrich currently employs 1,584 workers earning an average of $51,392, a total annual payroll of about $86 million. The 35 new jobs, which will earn $35,000 each, would add $1.5 million in payroll expenses.

Goodrich indicated in the application that the additional equipment would be purchased sometime between 2011 and 2013. The installation and other improvements are projected to be completed by 2015. The value of the abatement would be based on the size of the investment, which could go as high as $75 million. Goodrich estimates to save about $2.1 million on a $50-million investment over 10 years.