Tire Company Praised For Creating Jobs

American Tire Distributors and the owners of its future building were lauded during Tuesday's Common Council meeting for .

Not only are the positions full-time, but also newly-created positions - not jobs transferred from elsewhere. 

"We're adding 40 full-time jobs to what is currently a piece of vacant property," Alderman Steve Scaffidi said.

American Tire Distributors will lease a yet-to-be-constructed 120,000-square-foot building at 340 E. Mahn Court, just off Howell Avenue. The facility .

Alderman Ken Gehl, noting the city's 6.4 percent unemployment rate, said he hopes preference is given to candidates who live in Oak Creek.

"In the past, we've asked that developers in the community do what they can to target Oak Creek citizens for first shots at jobs," Gehl said. "We'd appreciate any cooperation.

"We'd like to see them take Oak Creek citizens first, if they can."

Representatives of the development responded that they would "be happy" to work with the city on Gehl's request.

The aldermen spoke shortly before unanimously approving a financing measure that will give Mahn Court Partners $300,000 in assistance to help ensure the project is completed.

The money will come through  and be used for utility and site preparation work, according to a report to council members.