Kumho Tires announces plans to construct a 350,000-square-foot warehouse and future plans for a distribution center in Franklin. Brandy Christian President of the Port of New Orleans said it’s a significant multi-million-dollar investment in St. Mary Parish.
“The facility would actually be a combination of distribution center of natural rubber whole made tires but also an investment down the road in manufacturing as well,” said Christian.
Kumho Tires manufactures 17-inch passenger and light truck tires.
Christian said it’s also significant for the public-private partnership with the Port of New Orleans to establish a $1.8 billion container facility, further growing Louisiana’s import and export capacity.
“With the investment of the container terminal, we’ve worked really closely with economic development corporations across the state, to help attract imports through distribution centers and manufacturing,” said Christian.
The state-of-the-art facility will have the annual capacity to manufacture five million tires annually. Christian said they are excited to see Kumho Tires’ commitment to the region and it’s indicative of the future growth of the Port of New Orleans.
“That Louisiana is poised to be a very diverse manufacturing and distribution hub not only for the state and for the region, but really throughout the Midwest,” said Christian.
The tire distribution center is expected to create upward of 200 full-time jobs.
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