Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown
BROWN, RYAN CONGRATULATE GOODYEAR ON ACQUISITION OF COOPER TIRE, URGE EXPANSION OF FINDLAY-BASED WORKFORCE
Akron-Based Goodyear has Consistently Made Steps to Invest in Ohio
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and U.S. Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) commended Goodyear on its acquisition of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, and its continued commitment to Ohio workers. Following this announcement, the lawmakers pressed the Akron-based company to take steps to sustain and grow the Findlay plant operations. The acquisition will merge Cooper Tire & Rubbers’ Findlay-based workforce with Goodyear’s workforce in Akron, making it the only U.S.-based tire manufacturer in the country.
“With this expansion into Findlay, Goodyear has a unique opportunity to bolster its legacy as a proud Ohio-based company by committing to Northwest Ohio,” the lawmakers wrote. “We are seeing increasing investments in manufacturing innovation in the region, including in sustainable energy industries. We urge you to consider this an opportunity for manufacturing as well as corporate and operations employees.”
A copy of the letter is available here and below:
Richard Kramer
President and CEO
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.
200 Innovation Way
Akron, OH 44316-0001
Dear Mr. Kramer:
We are writing to congratulate Goodyear on its recent acquisition of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, an institution with a 107-year history in Ohio. With this new addition, you are merging a proud Findlay-based workforce with Goodyear’s thriving Akron-based Global Headquarters to become the only U.S.-based tire manufacturer. We commend you on your commitment to Ohio, your recognition of the expertise that Ohioans bring to the automotive industry, and this investment in the Findlay community.
We were encouraged to see that this acquisition comes out of deep respect for Cooper’s team, a shared commitment to “integrity, quality, agility and teamwork,” and that you plan to keep a presence in Findlay. Moving forward, we strongly urge you to take steps to sustain and grow the Findlay plant operations, expand the research and development center, and leverage the historic proficiency and knowledge that Cooper’s Findlay-based employees bring to the table.
Over the last decade, you have consistently taken steps to invest in Ohio. We have communicated in the past about how our state is a leader in U.S. manufacturing and automotive manufacturing, in particular. Ohio workers know how to manufacture components in the entire automobile supply chain and understand how to create value for the business. Our workers and infrastructure are second-to-none.
With this expansion into Findlay, Goodyear has a unique opportunity to bolster its legacy as a proud Ohio-based company by committing to Northwest Ohio. We are seeing increasing investments in manufacturing innovation in the region, including in sustainable energy industries. We urge you to consider this an opportunity for manufacturing as well as corporate and operations employees. In fact, as Cooper is integrated into Goodyear, your company’s policy of manufacturing the tires it sells in the United State here in the United States provides an opportunity to increase production in places like Findlay.
A long-term investment in Findlay will give Goodyear access to world-class workers and a community that knows tires, manufacturing, and the automobile industry. We urge you to continue Goodyear’s proud tradition in our state and work to expand opportunities for all categories of employees in our very own “Flag City, U.S.A.”
Sincerely,
###