Bridgestone honored as Industry of the Year

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON News Editor for the Southern Standard

With Bridgestone employees like plant manager Ron Brooks participating in Habitat for Humanity projects, the company is an active part of the community.

In addition to recruiting new industry, the Industrial Development Board of McMinnville/Warren County is also very much involved in helping our existing industries grow and prosper, since those companies, along with our retail businesses, form the foundation of our economy.

Expansion of already established local industries can, and does, provide a substantial number of jobs, not to mention these companies? contributions to our tax base and the support they provide to community programs and charitable organizations.

?In today?s economic environment it is widely known that over 80 percent of the new jobs created in a community come from existing industry,? said director of economic development Jeff McCormick. ?The Industrial Development Board values the existing industry in McMinnville-Warren County and strives to work with them to ensure their success and aid in future growth.?

That?s why the IDB has decided to institute an awards program to recognize these industries for all they do in the community. The recognition is to be designated the Industry of the Year, and will be awarded annually to an industry which has gone the extra mile to make our community a better place to live and work.

Bridgestone has been named the first company to win the award.

Over the last five years, Bridgestone has provided approximately $420 million in payroll locally. In that same period the company has spent close to $38 million purchasing products and services from local suppliers. In addition, they have spent around $40.1 million in capital improvements to the local plant, a portion of which was also spent with local businesses. Job-wise, the company currently employs around 1,082 workers, including contractors.

Support to local clubs and non-profit organizations, and to the community in general, has been a mainstay of Bridgestone Firestone?s corporate philosophy. Including trust fund donations, plant donations and employee donations the company has contributed around $434,000 to community groups in the last five years.

Those funds benefited a long list of local organizations, including Partners in Education, the Chamber of Commerce, Meals on Wheels, United Way, volunteer fire departments, Families in Crisis, Young Scholars Institute, among many others.

One recent high-profile project the company was involved in was a two-week blitz-build for Habitat for Humanity in April where Bridgestone Firestone actually had over 100 teammates involved in the construction of a new Habitat home. In addition, the Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund provided $30,000 toward the purchase of the materials for the organization, which provides affordable housing for deserving local families.

Bridgestone Firestone plant manager Ron Brooks says the company is pleased to be the first recipient of this recognition.

?On behalf of my teammates at the Bridgestone Firestone Warren Facility, we are honored to be recognized as Industry of the Year,? Brooks said. ?Bridgestone Firestone Americas is committed to the communities where our facilities are located. Through the support of the Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund donations and grass root initiatives made possible by the generosity and volunteer efforts of our teammates, it is our goal to have a lasting positive impact in this community. We look forward to continuing the relationship we have with this county and surrounding communities. ?

The formal presentation of the IDB?s first Industry of the Year Award will be made in a ceremony at the Bridgestone Firestone Warren Facility which has been tentatively set for Sept. 14.