AKRON — Myers Industries Inc. is staying in Akron after all.
The company, which sought a $400,000 loan from Cuyahoga County for a move that would brought the company's headquarters to Cleveland, said Oct. 1 the move is off.
"After extensive review and evaluation, we have decided to suspend our corporate headquarters and Myers Tire Supply (MTS) office relocation from Akron to Cleveland," a company statement read.
"When we first discussed the relocation several months ago, we felt it was a prudent business decision that supported our long-term strategy. Since then, we've determined that the costs associated with the move would be higher than anticipated and impacted our ability to create the open and collaborative space we envisioned. In addition, we want to focus our efforts on the business at hand and on implementing our strategy."
At a Cuyahoga County Community Improvement Corp. (CCCIC) meeting on Sept. 12, Kevin Gehrt, Myers vice president of human resources, told CCCIC members of the that the company was seeking the loan for the new space after a search in Akron failed to find the right kind of space.
"We tried really hard to stay in Akron," he said. "We just weren't able to find the right property with the right owner, or the metrics and financials to make it work."
After the plans for the move became public, however, the company felt the backlash from the community that had been its home for all of its 85 years in business. That led to the decision to reconsider.