FINDLAY, Ohio—Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is working with the State of Ohio to add a global tech center in Findlay.
The tire maker announced that Ohio—through the commissioners of the Ohio Third Frontier program—has approved $2.8 million in funding to support a Global Technology Center.
Cooper said the facility would be the company's worldwide center for tire technology, advanced technology and innovation. It aims to put the Global Technical Center in Findlay within the same building where its North American Technical Center already exists. Cooper currently has two other regional technical centers located in Melksham, England, and Shanghai.
Although state approval for some funding is an important step, Cooper said the project must still be passed by the state Controlling Board. The total cost of the project will be approximately $40 million over five years and will create 40 jobs over the next three years, including engineers, scientists, researchers and more.
The decision still needs to be approved for final confirmation by the Controlling Board, which is expected to occur within the next few weeks.