By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
The newest Tractor Supply store in the chain celebrated opening its doors with a ribbon cutting on Saturday, Feb. 21.
The Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce led the ribbon cutting ceremony, attended by Copperas Cove Mayor Dan Yancey, city councilmembers John Hale and Christina Strohfus, and the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Fred Welch.
“This has been about three or four years in the making, but it has finally led to this point, and I wish you all the success in the world. I know our city will support you,” Yancey said.
Taylor Steele, District Manager for Tractor Supply, attended as well. The district has 14 stores, including Copperas Cove – the area north of Austin and south of Waco.
“Our 15th store is coming next year, our second location in Georgetown,” said Steele. “We are absolutely happy to be here. It took a while to get it done, but we got it done. It’s been so great seeing the community excitement around it. I mean, as soon as we got the walls up, it seemed like every 15 minutes, people were knocking on our doors, like, ‘When are you going to open?’”
Steele shared the company mission statement, to work hard, have fun, make money by providing legendary service to every customer every day.
“There are a couple key partnerships that I’ll just call out. Our Hometown Heroes program, Tractor Supply is committed to highlighting our first responders, our former and active military through our Hometown Heroes program. So we’ll be looking forward to having those community events later on this year,” Steele said. “And then, of course, FFA and 4h are key partnerships for us as well to America’s next leaders in the rural field and in the business field.”
The store is under the management of Daniel Avila, who lives here locally has been part of Tractor Supply for nine years.
Like Steele, Avila is happy that this store is close to home in Copperas Cove.
“My team and myself just want to make sure that we’re providing legendary customer service to all of y’all. If y’all ever have anything specific y’all need, you know, reach out to me. Reach out to my team. We’re more than willing to help,” said Avila,
The store is located at 917 W. Business 190, across the highway from Christian House of Prayer. The new store provides about 15 new jobs to the area, with at least half of those being full-time positions. The Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation also has an incentive agreement in place to help jumpstart development in the area. The CCEDC is providing a $70,250 Development Grant to Tractor Supply, investing in infrastructure, specifically the construction of wastewater construction, which will be extended to serve adjacent properties.
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