GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Just over one week after Arizona Governor Doug Ducey tweeted that incentives for a future Nike facility in Goodyear would be pulled because of a shoe controversy, he tweeted that "we welcome Nike to our state."
In a series of tweets in the early morning of July 2, Governor Ducey announced that he has ordered the Arizona Commerce Authority to withdraw all financial incentive dollars to encourage Nike to add a manufacturing plant in the Valley.
Arizona’s economy is doing just fine without Nike. We don’t need to suck up to companies that consciously denigrate our nation’s history. 8/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 2, 2019
Ducey's decision stems from a Wall Street Journal report that said former NFL quarterback-turned-social justice activist Colin Kaepernick convinced Nike to pull its sneakers featuring an early American flag commonly known as the "Betsy Ross flag." Kaepernick reportedly found the shoe to be offensive.
On Thursday afternoon, Governor Ducey then tweeted that the Nike plant is "good news" for Arizona and that over 500 jobs would be brought to the Phoenix area.
This is good news for Arizona and for @GoodyearAZGov. 500 plus jobs. Over $184 million in capital investment. Arizona is open for business, and we welcome @Nike to our state. https://t.co/ZLPkcs3dkD
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) July 11, 2019
The governor's office said they will not reinstate the financial incentive offer that Gov. Ducey previously withdrew.
