Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced Tuesday that Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Ecore is making a $25.5 million investment in rural Dale County. The new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will employ 84 workers in the city of Ozark with an average pay of $42,500 annually.
Ecore specializes in transforming reclaimed materials into high-performance flooring and surface products. The privately held company is the largest converter of reclaimed rubber in North America, and its largest raw material is scrap truck tires.
“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,” stated Ivey. “This project in Ozark will bring good manufacturing jobs to the citizens there and spark new opportunities throughout the region.”
Ecore is purchasing an existing building in Ozark. There the company will equip it to reclaim the rubber from used truck tires. The reclaimed rubber will be used to manufacture flooring and surfacing products.
Art Dodge is the CEO of Ecore.
Dodge said the company is pleased to be partnering with the city of Ozark, Dale County, and the State of Alabama to establish the world-class manufacturing and recycling facility.
“Since its inception, Ecore has transformed over 2 billion pounds of rubber waste into surfaces that make people’s lives better,” Dodge 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.”
Economic developer Dr. Nicole Jones told Alabama Today, “Ecore International has already demonstrated good stewardship. The company is purchasing an existing building to utilize for its Alabama facility, transforming used tire rubber into flooring and surfacing products, and creating jobs within the rural Ozark/Dale County community.”
In 2021, the company upcycled over 100 million pounds of truck tires into manufacturing products, taking approximately 1 million truck tires from landfills or illegal dumps.
“Ecore is a champion of sustainability, with a primary goal of creating products that improve lives and the environment,” said Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg 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.”
“Ecore’s manufacturing process produces commercial flooring for a variety of markets, including nursing homes, schools, fitness centers, hotels, and retailers,” Dr. Jones said. “The company ergonomically engineered its flooring products to support joints and impact. Ecore patented its TRU technology, which the company said provides more safety, sound absorption, enhanced force reduction, and energy restitution. We are thrilled about Ecore’s investment in Alabama, and their business model focused on sustainability, safety, and long-term relationships within the communities they have a presence within.”
Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship said that Ecore’s addition to the community will have a positive effect on Ozark and Dale County as a whole.
“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,” said Mayor Blankenship. “We look forward to a great partnership with Ecore International.”
Dale County Commission Chairman Steve McKinnon said, “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. We want to thank the company for choosing to expand to Dale County and heartily welcome them.”
Brenda Tuck is the Rural Development Manager for the Alabama Department of Commerce. Tuck said that Ecore’s recycling facility project in Dale County joins a list of innovative operations being launched in rural Alabama. Since 2020, projects valued at over $3 billion have landed in the state’s rural counties.
“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.”
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
