Ecore International, a Pennsylvania-based recycled rubber product manufacturer, has announced plans to open a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Ozark.
The company plans to invest $25.5 million and create 84 jobs at its Dale County facility, according to the governor’s office.
Encore, a privately held company, specializes in transforming reclaimed materials into high-performance flooring and surface products. The manufacturer is the largest converter of reclaimed rubber in North America, and its largest raw material is scrap truck tires.
Gov. Kay Ivey said the company’s presence in rural Dale County would hold positive economic benefits for the area.
“Ecore International is a great addition for Alabama’s business community, and its decision to locate an advanced manufacturing and recycling facility in Dale County will have a major economic impact on the rural area,” she said in a statement. “This project in Ozark will bring good manufacturing jobs to the citizens there and spark new opportunities throughout the region.”
Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship conveyed the city’s appreciation to Ecore for recognizing the rural area as a prime location to expand its operations.
“I want to thank the team at Ecore International for their confidence in Ozark and Dale County. We welcome the expansion of your company from Pennsylvania to Ozark, Alabama,” expressed Blankenship. “We look forward to a great partnership with Ecore International.”
Echoing Blankenship’s sentiments was Dale County Commission Chairman Steve McKinnon.
“I am thrilled that Ecore is a company who will bring in the type of jobs that will attract people to move here and involve themselves in our community and our churches and schools,” said McKinnon. “We want to thank the company for choosing to expand to Dale County and heartily welcome them.”
The facility will reclaim the rubber from used truck tires and use it to make flooring and surfacing products. According to the Alabama Department of Commerce, the 84 full-time positions will pay an average annual salary of nearly $42,500.
Ecore CEO Art Dodge said the company looks forward to being a partner with the Ozark community. He also welcomed the collaboration between local and state entities in enabling the investment to come to fruition.
“Since its inception, Ecore has transformed over 2 billion pounds of rubber waste into surfaces that make people’s lives better,” he said. “All Ecore manufacturing facilities are certified ‘Zero Waste,’ amplifying the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
“Ecore invests in more than its facilities — we invest in our people and in our communities because we believe that when our people and our communities prosper, we prosper.”
Markets for Ecore products include nursing homes, hotels, fitness centers, recreation centers, retailers and schools.
In hailing the company’s planned investment, Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said Ecore is a “champion of sustainability.”
“Ecore is a champion of sustainability, with a primary goal of creating products that improve lives and the environment,” declared Canfield. “Its new tire recycling and manufacturing facility in Dale County will help this impressive company extend its mission while also providing good-paying jobs for citizens there.”
According to Brenda Tuck, rural development manager for the Alabama Department of Commerce, Ecore’s recycling facility project in Dale County joins a list of innovative operations being launched in rural Alabama.
More than $3 billion in projects have come to Alabama’s rural counties since 2020, the governor’s office said.
“Companies from around the world are discovering that Alabama’s rural communities are an ideal location to bring their game-changing innovations to life,” said Tuck. “The simple fact is these areas can offer growing businesses significant advantages that will magnify the impact of their investment and provide a launchpad for growth.”
Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
