Goodyear approves expansion project phase

<br>LAWTON, Okla. (AP) _ Goodyear officials have approved spending $19.61 million to expand the company's Lawton tire plant. <br><br>The project, part of the second phase of a modernization plan, will

Wednesday, October 2nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LAWTON, Okla. (AP) _ Goodyear officials have approved spending $19.61 million to expand the company's Lawton tire plant.

The project, part of the second phase of a modernization plan, will allow the facility to manufacture more high-profit tires, manager Arty Straehla said Tuesday.

Goodyear announced in January that it wanted to spend $125 million on modernization and would spend an additional $125 million if it received some state tax breaks.

The Oklahoma Legislature approved credits of up to $36 million, with a requirement that the community match 13.5 percent of the credits. That money is being provided through a quarter-cent county sales tax.

Straehla confirmed the project after Russell Perry, special adviser on economic development to Gov. Frank Keating, toured the current construction site.

The plant already is using new equipment that was provided as part of the modernization project, Straehla said.

``We will probably see a tire come off the equipment this week or early next week,'' he said, and more is ``arriving daily.''

A groundbreaking for the beginning of construction was held June 1. The company may begin occupying some of the space in the 174,676-square-foot plant addition as early as next week, Straehla said.

Plans call for Goodyear to occupy the 373,276-square-foot expansion of the warehouse by February. That upgrade will allow the company to ship to customers directly from the plant, Straehla said.

Goodyear is trying to get an environmental permit to build about 35,000 square feet on the plant's north side, possibly beginning early next year.

``It's going fast and furious, and we're very pleased with the progress that's going on,'' Straehla said.