The massive Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. factory on Ramsey Street north of Fayetteville is set to close in 2027, the company said on Tuesday.
“After extensive efforts to make the Fayetteville, North Carolina facility competitive, Goodyear is in discussions with the United Steelworkers to close the facility by the end of 2027,” Kylie Ulanski, the senior director of Global Manufacturing & Supply Chain Communications, told CityView by email.
“This difficult action is necessary to strengthen Goodyear’s ability to compete in today’s marketplace and support the long‑term health of the business. Our focus is on treating all impacted associates fairly and communicating openly as discussions move forward,” Ulanski said.
Efforts to reach United Steelworkers Local 959 were unsuccessful on May 12.
The plant has about 1,700 hourly and salaried employees, Ulanski said.
Goodyear this month announced that it lost $249 million in the first quarter of 2026.
“The first quarter reflected a challenging environment, marked by weak consumer industry demand in both OE and replacement across the majority of our key geographies,” Goodyear President and CEO Mark Stewart said in a news release on May 6. “OE” stands for “original equipment,” and refers to tires that vehicle manufacturers include with new vehicles.
“Looking ahead, increased pressure on industry demand and higher raw material costs stemming from the conflict in the Middle East require that we continue to take meaningful actions to strengthen our cost structure,” Stewart said.
Community Leaders Brace for Loss
The Fayetteville factory opened in late 1969 after the Kelly-Springfield Tire Co., a Goodyear subsidiary, chose Cumberland County for the plant. The companies merged in 1996. In 2005, the plant took on the Goodyear name, Tyrepress.com reported.
Goodyear has long been one of Cumberland County’s largest and better-paying private employers, and a relatively rare manufacturing operation in a community with an economy dominated by lower-wage retail, rental, real estate, and service businesses that cater to the military families and defense workers of Fort Bragg, one of the largest military bases in the world.
In a joint press release from the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation, local elected leaders said they are preparing for the loss.
“While this news is disappointing, Fayetteville has always risen to meet challenges head-on,” Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said. “We are redoubling our efforts to connect our workforce to new opportunities and ensure our residents are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. Our commitment to building a Next Generation workforce has never been more critical.”
Kirk deViere, chair of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, said the city and county will help support employees at the plant.
“Cumberland County cares deeply about every worker and family impacted by this closure,” deViere said. “Together, with our partners at NCWorks, Mid-Carolina Regional Workforce Development Board, Fayetteville Technical Community College, and the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the City and County are committed to providing support and resources to those affected.”
The FCEDC will help, too, said Robert Van Geons, president and CEO of the economic development agency.
“Assuming the closure proceeds, FCEDC will work in close coordination with state and local workforce development partners to ensure that all impacted employees have seamless access to training programs, job placement services, and other forms of support,” he said.
Key Moments in Goodyear’s Fayetteville History
The archives of The Fayetteville Observer—available online to anyone with a Cumberland County library card—outline the Goodyear factory’s long history. Here are some milestones:
• 1969: In March, Kelly-Springfield selected Cumberland County for a new factory. The $12 million project began making tires in December. It employed 575 people and made 12,500 tires daily.
• 1970: A $40 million expansion was announced that would bring the workforce to 1,700. Later expansions and upgrades followed over the next 25 years.
• 1988: The plant announced a $19 million modernization and expansion. It employed 2,900 people and produced 52,000 tires a day.
• 1994: $33 million in upgrades announced to increase capacity to 65,000 tires a day.
• 2004: Goodyear invested $50 million for upgrades and a new warehouse.
• 2007: The North Carolina General Assembly allocated $60 million for grants to be split between the Goodyear plant in Fayetteville and a Bridgestone Firestone tire factory in Wilson.
Each plant was required to spend $200 million in upgrades and maintain employment of at least 2,000 full-time workers.