How West Alabama Workforce Officials Plan To Help 1,200 BFGoodrich Workers

TUSCALOOSA, AL — West Alabama's leading business and workforce organizations say they are already working to help employees at the BFGoodrich tire plant prepare for the facility's eventual closure.

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Officials emphasized that no layoffs are expected this year and that a coordinated transition plan is underway.

As Patch previously reported, Michelin North America said Thursday that its decision to permanently shutter its longtime BFGoodrich tire plant in Tuscaloosa was due to it operating "well below" capacity.

The closure of the plant, which has manufactured tires since 1946, will impact approximately 1,200 jobs by the time it fully closes in 2028.

BFGoodrich is the seventh-largest employer in Tuscaloosa County, along with being the third-largest manufacturer behind Mercedes-Benz U.S. International in Vance and Warrior Met Coal in Brookwood.

In a joint statement released Friday, the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority (TCEDA) and West Alabama Works said they have been meeting with Michelin and BFGoodrich leadership since the company announced plans to gradually wind down operations in Tuscaloosa.

The organizations said Michelin has committed to avoiding layoffs at the facility throughout 2026, giving employees, community leaders and workforce partners time to prepare for the transition.

The Chamber of Commerce said workforce reductions are expected to begin in phases during the first half of 2027 as the company moves toward ending production at the plant by the end of 2028.

The three organizations said they are working with city and county officials, state lawmakers, educational institutions, economic development groups and state agencies to develop a comprehensive response aimed at supporting affected workers and their families.

Officials said the regional effort will focus on connecting employees with career transition services, skills training, educational opportunities and available jobs across West Alabama and surrounding areas.

"Our goal is clear: to ensure that every employee who wishes to remain in the workforce has access to opportunities that match their skills, experience, and aspirations," the statement said.

The organizations also pointed to West Alabama's history of adapting to economic change, expressing confidence that collaboration among industry leaders, government officials, educational institutions and workforce partners will help ease the transition for employees while strengthening the region's economy.

Local workforce and economic development leaders said they will continue providing updates to employees and the public as additional information and transition resources become available.

What We Know Right Now

In a benefits summary distributed to employees and obtained by Tuscaloosa Patch, Michelin said it will support workers throughout the transition while balancing the need to complete an orderly shutdown.

The company said salaried employees will receive lump-sum retention bonuses of $10,000 if they remain employed through Dec. 31, 2026, provided they remain in good standing and meet performance expectations.

Employees who separate from the company will receive severance pay equal to three weeks of base pay for every year of employment, with a guaranteed minimum of 12 weeks of pay regardless of tenure.

Michelin said there will be no maximum cap on separation pay.

The company also announced that retirement benefits will include automatic full vesting of performance shares and 401(k) matching contributions at each employee's designated separation date.

Health insurance coverage will continue at no additional cost beginning the month after an employee leaves the company for the duration of their separation pay period, up to a maximum of 12 months.

For workers who do not transfer to another Michelin facility, the company said it will provide up to 12 months of outplacement assistance or 12 months of continuing education credit.

Employees accepting transfers within North America will receive relocation assistance under existing company policy, along with one additional week of paid vacation to facilitate their move.

Michelin also said salaried employees will receive priority consideration for open salaried positions elsewhere within the company's North American operations.

The company noted that employees will have opportunities to meet with personnel representatives to discuss their individual benefits before the first separations begin in mid-2027.

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