FINDLAY, OH-Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has begun a facility expansion project for its location in Tupelo, MS.

Cooper currently occupies more than 1.6 million square feet and employs more than 1,250 people at its South Green Street facility. Construction is set to begin this month on the $7 million expansion where RFW Construction, based out of Dyersburg, Tenn., will design and construct the 32,000-square-foot addition. The new expansion, which includes a mixer that is being installed, will enable the plant to be more competitive.

“This expansion will enable Cooper to produce more technologically advanced products and will enable the company to improve the competitiveness of its operations,” says Pat Jodon, plant manager for the Cooper Tire Tupelo facility.

“The Tupelo facility’s expansion will also allow us to better serve our customers and improve our competitive advantage in the North American market,” says Jodon. “We are grateful for the community and state support we have received for this project.”

The addition is the result of an incentive/retention agreement that was reached with the city and the state earlier this year. Construction will begin this month and details of the expansion plan are being finalized. The project is expected to be completed by April 2010 and calls for a new mixing building that will be added to the southwest corner of the plant.

For more information, visitwww.coopertire.com.