FRANKLIN, Ind. — Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is planning to relocate a distribution center in Franklin to a larger facility under construction in nearby Whiteland, Ind.
The new facility, expected to open in early 2021, will span 1 million square feet and thus provide increased capacity and a modern design for enhanced efficiencies, Cooper said.
"We are excited to build a larger regional distribution center in this key location to ensure we continue to provide our customers with exceptional service through enhanced logistics capabilities," Mike Calabro, executive director, North America Supply Chain, said.
The existing facility in Franklin spans 807,000 square feet.
"Further, the dedicated workforce at the facility will remain in place, meaning we will be able to quickly transition to this new location with no interruption in the timely delivery of our products to customers."
Cooper will lease the new facility, which is being built by Dallas-based Mohr Capital. The Whiteland Town Council approved in May a 10-year real property tax break for the company to relocate to Whiteland, according to local news reports.
Mohr plans to invest $40 million in the building, $4.7 million to buy the property and $10 million to install logistics equipment at the site, according to its tax abatement application on file with the town.
Whiteland is a town of about 4,200 inhabitants located just a few miles north of Franklin and about 15 miles south of Indianapolis. It has nearby access to the Interstate system via I-65 and I-465.
The Whiteland distribution center will be one of six regional distribution centers operated by Cooper in the U.S. The company's North America distribution network also includes warehouses at its three tire plants and two mixing warehouses.