A Wyoming-based renewable energy logistics company will move into the former site of the Goodyear plant in Gadsden.
According to an Aug. 15 news release from the city of Gadsden, Takkion will lease the 2.9 million-square-foot from Phoenix Gadsden Industrial Investors LLC, an affiliate of Milwaukee-based Phoenix Investors, LLC. Terms of the lease were not disclosed.
Takkion is a global industry leader in clean energy services with more than two dozen sites in the United States. The Gadsden facility will be used as a storage and handling hub for renewable energy materials, primarily solar panels. According to the news release, the solar panels will be used in clean energy projects across the country.
“We’re excited to have this new company coming to Gadsden,” said Mayor Craig Ford in the news release.
“I want to thank Phoenix Investors for working to make this deal happen. This deal takes an unoccupied building and fills it with a tenant from one of the fastest-growing industrial sectors in the world,” Ford said. “Having a logistics company like Takkion in Gadsden will put us in the center of distribution for the entire renewable energy industry throughout the Southeast.”
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s Gadsden plant closed in 2020 after more than 90 years. The Gadsden Goodyear plant was once the world’s largest tire manufacturing facility, employing more than 4,000 people at its peak.
Takkion President Pete Bierden said the move will reinvigorate a dormant facility while boosting the Gadsden economy.
“We understand that changes to a familiar property bring questions. Our goal is to be a responsible neighbor while putting the property back to productive use,” Bierden said. “As our drivers and crews work here, they’ll also be stopping for fuel, meals, and supplies in Gadsden — bringing added business to local shops and services.
“Takkion’s work in Gadsden supports our broader mission: helping wind, solar, and other energy projects come to life by ensuring materials are moved and stored safely,” Bierden said. “By revitalizing a well-known local site, we aim to contribute positively to the local economy and integrate respectfully into the community.”
David Hooks, director of the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority, said the Takkion deal is the culmination of a lot of hard work since Phoenix bought the property in 2022.
“The Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority has worked diligently with Phoenix since their purchase of the building to bring tenants to the property, and we’re proud to have this nationally known company located in Gadsden,” said David Hooks, director of the Gadsden-Etowah IDA.
Kurt Jensen, senior vice president of acquisitions and leasing for Phoenix Investors, said he looks forward to the transformation of the former tire plant.
“This marks an important first step toward our goal of transforming the former Goodyear complex and securing a lease of this scale brings new life to the property,” Jensen said.
Takkion began operations at the site this week. Gadsden residents can expect to see a plenty of trucks and other activity at the plant as Takkion moves its stock of products into the space.
The news release states that Takkion’s operations are designed to run efficiently while minimizing disruption to the community.
