Cooper earns Ark. award for export success

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The state of Arkansas has recognized Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.'s operations in Texarkana, Ark., with the state's Governor's Award in the large manufacturing exporter category.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson cited Cooper for working aggressively to maintain quality and the international demand for its products, Cooper said.

The award was one of five presented to winning companies from the state on May 24 at an event held at the governor's mansion in Little Rock, hosted by the Arkansas District Export Council (ArDEC).

Cooper's Texarkana operations support product sales in Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, the United Kingdom and other nations. Established in 1964, the Texarkana tire plant produces passenger and light truck tires and employs approximately 2,000 workers.

"Trade is vitally important for Arkansas," Mr. Hutchinson said. "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."

Besides the 54-year-old tire plant in Texarkana, Cooper maintains a distribution center and retail store in that city in southwest Arkansas/northeast Texas.

Cooper did not say what percentage of the products made in Texarkana are exported.