Construction of the Kumho Tire Georgia Inc.’s tire manufacturing plant in Macon is to move ahead now that a bond issue of up to $475 million has been approved officially, Stephen Adams, the director of operations for the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, confirmed on Dec. 30.

“We have some contingency issues in the agreement including cost and development overages, but we are delighted with the project,” Mr. Adams told Global Atlanta. 

A $375 million for the project was first approved in 2008, but the recession placed the project on hold until July of this year when the South Korean company announced it would build a larger facility.

The off- and on-again project has received widespread support of Macon Bibb County officials including the industrial authority, the Bibb County Board of Education, tax assessors, tax commissioner, county commissioners and the Macon Economic Development Commission.

Kumho’s 1 million-square-foot facility in the Softkee Industrial Park once completed is expected to produce 4 million tires a year. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2016. Kumho has committed $200 million to the project.

Mr. Adams said that the plant is expected to create more than 450 jobs with average salaries of $45,000 per year.