A Look Into Ecore's New Manufacturing Facility in Ozark

OZARK, Ala. (WTVY) - Ecore International, the largest converter of reclaimed rubber in North America, is now operating in Ozark.

News4 sat in on a tour of the new state-of-the-art facility to explore how this new branch of the business will impact the city economy.

Ecore is a multi-million dollar business based out of Pennsylvania.

You may recognize its product--the business created the speckled rubber flooring commonly used in fitness centers.

“We really looked for a place that was looking for an opportunity to create a partnership that we can help make the community we are in; people’s lives better that come to work here every day and ultimately the economy and environment better. We found a great home here,” Ecore CEO Art Dodge said.

The zero-waste multi-part operation repurposes rubber that would normally be thrown away and transforms it into durable commercial flooring.

Just recently, the company installed flooring in the football training center at the University of Alabama.

“It is a business that is never going to die just like the material we process. The fact that we can offer that to our customers in a more cost-effective way because we are in the area, it is creating more jobs so we are really excited about the future,” Dodge said.

In conjunction with creating more jobs, the company hopes to partner with area school districts to introduce students to career possibilities.

“That would be a wonderful thing. I have talked to our vice president of manufacturing and our local plant manager about creating summer internship opportunities for students,” Dodge said.

Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship said that based on how this company will impact not only the economy, but the community as a whole, the future is bright.

“We had the great facility for them, and of course, we reached out to them and worked with them as best we could to locate them here. They have been a great company. They want to be a part of the community and we are excited about that,” Blankenship said.

The CEO extended thanks to city and county leaders for the joint effort to ensure this business’s success in Ozark.

Credit: 2024 WTVT & Jacklynn Lambert