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Published: Monday, Aug. 27, 2012 / Updated: Monday, Aug. 27, 2012 04:27 PM

Continental Tire expansion hailed as a boon to all of Lancaster County

INDIAN LAND -- 

County and state officials were on hand Friday to celebrate the expansion of the Indian Land-based Continental Tire the Americas.

The company expanded its facility by 16,000 square feet, bringing the building to 91,000 square feet. The addition cost $4 million.

Continental Tire opened three years ago with 375 employees and officials said the company, which relocated from Charlotte, will add an additional 80 jobs over the next four years. The jobs will be professional positions in departments including human resources, finance, sales and purchasing.

The expansion will be a significant addition to the county’s tax base, said Keith Tunnell, president of Lancaster County Economic Development.

“It’s much needed with all of the investment we lost in ’07 when Springs left,” Tunnell said, referring to the textile manufacturer that was once Fort Mill township’s main employer.

“It’s good jobs, good wages. And having these businesses here helps bring other home offices.”

It also improves the retail and commercial market, he added.

As part of the celebration, the company donated 50 tires to the Lancaster County Fire Department.

The fire department typically pays between $800 and $1,000 for a new tire. It replaces truck tires every five years, said the county’s fire service director Darren Player, unless they are damaged sooner. Because the department buys tires all at one time, they typically need to be replaced at the same time. This year is a “replacement year,” Player said.

The 50 tires donated by Continental Tire will ease the department’s $85,000 a year maintenance budget, he added.

“It’s a sizeable gift to the county,” Player said. “This helps us put that money into other things. The money we save goes back into the general fund to help with other projects in the county.”

Continental Tire also donated $10,000 to the York County Boys and Girls Club.

Indian Land’s representative on the county council, Larry McCullough, said the success of Continental Tire aids in the success of the county by helping attract other “world class companies.”

The expansion of Continental Tire isn’t the only expansion to make headlines this month. Last week, Red Ventures announced early in August that it acquired 16 acres of land near its Indian Land headquarters. The expansion could create 1,000 jobs over the next five years. McCullough said the expansions are signs of an improving economy.

“Things are starting to happen,” McCullough said. “This is evidence that the economy is turning around. World class companies don’t do things in a frivolous manner. They don’t expand if it’s not good timing.”

For more information about jobs with Continental Tire, go to Jobs and Careers at www.conti-online.com.