NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 21) — Bridgestone/Firestone broke ground Aug. 21 on a 1 million-sq.-ft. distribution center in Jacksonville, Fla., that will house more than a million tires to serve Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
BFS first announced the project in June 2006. The Nashville-based tire maker then estimated its investment at $44 million. When completed, it will be BFS´ largest distribution center in the U.S.
Besides supplying products ranging from small passenger tires to industrial and commercial truck tires to the surrounding area, the facility also will supply product to the entire U.S. with imports from Latin America. The center will supply the eastern half of the U.S. with tires from Japan and other Asian countries, as well.
About 250 people will be employed at the distribution center.
Nelson Miller, vice president of logistics for BFS, said the firm´s primary motivation for selecting Jacksonville is its strategic location near the Port of Jacksonville, which is expanding and will give BFS the ability to provide overnight delivery service to more than 96 percent of its customers.
The tire maker also announced at the groundbreaking that it will donate $5,000 to the local elementary school.