Nike goes ahead with Arizona sole plant

This undated product image obtained by the Associated Press shows Nike Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July shoes that have a U.S. flag with 13 white stars in a circle on it, known as the Betsy Ross flag, on them. Nike is pulling the flag-themed tennis shoe after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick complained to the shoemaker, according to the Wall Street Journal. (Nike via AP Photo)
This undated product image obtained by the Associated Press shows Nike Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July shoes that have a U.S. flag with 13 white stars in a circle on it, known as the Betsy Ross flag, on them. Nike is pulling the flag-themed tennis shoe after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick complained to the shoemaker, according to the Wall Street Journal. (Nike via AP Photo)

PHOENIX -- Nike announced this week that it's going forward with plans to make soles for Nike Air shoes in a Phoenix suburb even though Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey blocked state money for the plant when the company pulled a flag-themed shoe from the market.

The shoemaker did not address the controversy in announcing its plans for a $184 million factory with at least 500 jobs in Goodyear.

Despite his earlier criticism, Ducey welcomed Nike to Arizona on Thursday.

"This is good news for Arizona and for GoodyearAZGov," he wrote on Twitter. "500 plus jobs. Over $184 million in capital investment. Arizona is open for business, and we welcome Nike to our state."

Nike faced criticism last week for its decision not to sell the Nike Air Max 1 USA shoe, which included a Revolutionary-era emblem known as the Betsy Ross flag.

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has a high-profile endorsement deal with Nike, told the company the flag recalls an era when black people were enslaved and that it has been appropriated by white-nationalist groups.

"Arizona's economy is doing just fine without Nike," Ducey wrote on Twitter. He ordered the Arizona Commerce Authority to withdraw a grant of up to $1 million.

But Nike still will get more than $2 million in tax breaks from the city of Goodyear, where Nike said it will begin work on the factory later this year and begin making soles in 2020. It will be the third U.S. manufacturing center for Nike Air.

The Beaverton, Ore., company recently expanded plants in its home state and Missouri.

Business on 07/13/2019

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