NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Tennessee state officials have approved a $28.4 million state infrastructure grant to support the construction of Nokian Tyre P.L.C.'s $360 million tire factory planned for Dayton, Tenn.
State Building Board Commission members approved the investment Aug. 10 that will go to the city of Dayton's Industrial Development Board, which will determine how the funds are to be spent to support the plant's construction.
The state money will go toward plant infrastructure, site development, equipment, facility construction and related work, according to the grant's terms.
Construction for the plant—Nokian's third worldwide and first in the U.S.—will begin in early 2018 with the plant being fully operational by 2020. The site also will house a distribution facility with a storage capacity of 600,000 tires.
Site preparation work for the plant was scheduled to start in August in coordination with the Rhea Economic & Tourism Council (RETC).