Cooper Tire garners state recognition
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company’s operations in Texarkana, Ark., received the Arkansas Governor’s Award in the large manufacturing exporter category at the 8th Annual Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Global Trade.
The award was one of five presented to winning companies from the state on May 24 at the governor’s mansion in Little Rock, hosted by the Arkansas District Export Council.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson presented this year’s awards and Cooper, which operates a tire production plant, distribution center and retail store in Texarkana, was cited specifically for working aggressively to maintain quality and an international demand for its products.
“Trade is vitally important for Arkansas. Increasing exports of Arkansas-made and Arkansas-grown products results in two excellent outcomes: it produces extra capital
for companies to invest in their facilities and creates new employment opportunities for Arkansans,” Hutchinson said.
Cooper Texarkana plant manager Scott Cole said, “The company has a strong international presence across the globe with the Texarkana operations helping to support product sales in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Australia, China and other nations. Established in 1964, the Texarkana tire plant produces light vehicle tires and employs approximately 2,000 workers.
“We are honored to receive this recognition. We have an outstanding team in Texarkana, which has my personal thanks for helping to make our operations worthy of this distinction. Nothing happens without great people, and Cooper Texarkana, as well as the entire state of Arkansas, is fortunate to have many. It is exciting that the high-quality, great-performing tires we make and distribute out of Texarkana are sold and end up on vehicles around the globe. We are pleased to be an important part of our state’s economy and the global tire industry.”
The Arkansas District Export Council is a nonprofit organization comprised of members of Arkansas’s exporting community. Its members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce and encourages manufacturers across the state to consider exporting as an opportunity for growth.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is the parent company of a global family of companies that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of passenger car, light truck, medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires.