BARTOW COUNTY, Ga. (July 14, 2011)—Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. executives and Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal have signed an agreement to expand the county's bonding capacity by an additional $910 million, enabling the tire maker to expand its tire plant there and add up to 470 jobs over the next few years.
The governor made a visit to the factory July 12 to reaffirm the bond expansion, which he had announced in November 2010.
A press statement from the governor's office noted that Toyo's Bartow County facility was the Cypress, Calif.-based tire maker's first U.S. consumer tire production operation. The 900,000-sq.-ft. plant, in operation since 2006, includes a manufacturing facility and warehouse to serve the company's customers nationwide.
Toyo expanded the facility by another 820,000 square feet in 2008, growing its workforce to 700 people. Then last year, the company announced a further 200-job expansion at the site.
With the capacity enabled by the bonding, the governor's office said Toyo's employment could grow to 1,340 workers by 2020.
“The pro-business environment and cooperation from the State of Georgia and Bartow County have exceeded our expectations. Our start-up and growth have proceeded more quickly than planned,” said Jim Hawk, president of Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing, in a state press release. “Georgia Quick Start continues to be a significant part of our success. With the continuation of support from the Bartow County Joint Development Authority, we will be in a position to continue our growth.”
Georgia Quick Start is the state's work force development program that, according to the governor's office, “played an integral part in Toyo's success.” Bartow County is designated a Georgia Certified Work Ready Community.