Our Community

Give Big,
Expect Little.

For more than 65 years, we’ve built the framework supporting critical operations and infrastructure across the county. But steel doesn’t just support weight – it supports purpose.

Guided by our core value committed to community service, we are working to raise a new kind of structure. One that creates a stronger, more connected community for our neighbors to live, work, and grow.

Reading Program

Introduced in 2023, the Cooper Steel Reading Program is an initiative aimed at promoting literacy and personal growth by encouraging elementary school students in Bedford County, Tennessee and Childersburg, Alabama to read throughout the school year.

Our motto, “Build Strong. Stand Strong,” goes deeper than the structures we develop. It starts in our community, and with the youngest of those, where we believe it’s critical to instill the importance of commitment to personal growth, responsibility, and lifelong learning.

Data shows only 40% of third grade students read on grade level in Tennessee in 2023, and those who cannot read on grade level by third grade struggle to succeed later in their education—including graduating from high school, completing higher education, and becoming employed later in life.

That’s why we established the Cooper Steel Reading Program in 2023, first at East Side Elementary School, and now expanded to all elementary schools in Bedford County, promoting literacy for young minds.

The reading program sets goals for students to read throughout the school year on a minute-read basis rather than the number of total books read, with the goal to encourage students to read more, keep improving, and reach their goals during the school year.

There are four total prizes ranging from a new book, pair of shoes, and mystery events, that can be awarded to students throughout the school year, set at benchmarks of 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 minutes read.

To date, the program has supported more than 6.9 million minutes read by students across the five Bedford County elementary schools, with over 2,940 pairs of shoes being awarded.

We are proud to continue to support students’ growth and are grateful for their hard work and commitment to growth each year, which helps to build our community for a stronger tomorrow!

Twelve/Twelve Legacy Program

The Twelve/Twelve Legacy Program is designed to foster educational success, personal growth, and accountability among students. Started in 2023, the program pairs high school students with elementary school students within the Bedford County school district for a 12-month partnership, helping to form relationships that last over the students’ 12-year academic journey and lifetimes.

One of our four core values, “Be the One,” outlines how we act: embodying a code of moral integrity and responsibility and leading by example to do what’s right.

Research shows the impact of mentorship over a child’s life can make waves. Mentored youth are 10 percent more likely to attend college and are expected to earn 15 percent more than their peers over their lifetime. Further, mentors themselves can benefit through opportunities to improve communication and leadership skills, develop new perspectives, and gain a sense of fulfillment through helping mentees succeed.

In light of this, we developed the Twelve/Twelve Legacy Program to instill the value to “Be the One” in our community and build a cycle of social good for generations to come.

The program pairs high school students with elementary school students within the Bedford County school district for a 12-month partnership, helping to form relationships that last over the students’ 12-year academic journey and lifetimes.

Through the program, local high school organizations and sports teams can receive grants in exchange for participation, with participants including students involved in National Honor Society, football, Spanish club, and more. The participating high school students help to build a positive culture, learning environment, and encouraging relationships with local elementary students through initiatives like High Five Fridays, class reading visits, shoe presentations, and more.

The program is mutually beneficial, offering elementary students guidance, support, and encouragement through mentorship, while providing high school students with a sense of accountability and responsibility to the younger students.

Together, we are working to build a strong future and a more connected community.

Our Community

Additional involvement Highlights

School Supplies

Each summer, Bedford County schools can provide Cooper Steel with their school supplies lists, which we purchase and provide to ensure each student and educator is set up for a successful school year. In 2025, we provided all Bedford County public elementary schools with their requested school supplies.

Teacher Support

To support local teachers, we provide monthly gifts to teachers in Bedford County, and at Christmas, we host a “Teachers’ Day Out,” where Cooper Steel employees volunteer to watch classrooms while teachers attend a well-deserved nice lunch out. Further, Cooper Steel South supports its local school, Childersburg Elementary, through a Teacher of the Month recognition program.

Athletics Programs

Cooper Steel sponsors various athletic programs in Bedford County as well as in Amherst County, Virginia. In Bedford County, Cooper Steel is supporting facilities upgrades for Shelbyville Central High School, including a new turf football field, jumbotron, weight room, volleyball locker room, baseball field, soccer field, and more. In Amherst County, Cooper Steel of Virginia is a sponsor of the local high school football team.

Blue Monarch

Cooper Steel and its employees support Blue Monarch throughout the year in various ways, including buying granola from its shop, Out of the Blue, and through its pen pals program. Blue Monarch aims to support women and their children, helping to break adverse cycles and rebuild their families by providing a long-term, residential and therapeutic Christian community. Since 2003, Blue Monarch has served more than 1,000 women and children, including reuniting over 370 children with their mothers who had previously lost custody.

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Cops ‘n Bobbers

Each May, we partner with the Shelbyville Police Department for a day of fishing with students from Bedford County Schools, encouraging positive mentorship opportunities and interactions with law enforcement.

Bee Bucks

A partner of East Side Elementary School throughout the entire year, Cooper Steel supports their “Bee Bucks” store during the holiday season, donating new or used items such as costume jewelry, coffee mugs, hats, picture frames, key chains, stuffed animals, gift bags, and more. This allows students to buy Christmas gifts for their family members using “Bee Bucks” they’ve earned throughout the school year for actions like attendance or good behavior, giving them the chance to participate in holiday celebrations and find the same joy in giving that we value at Cooper Steel.

Horton Haven

Horton Haven Christian Camp

Our team and community are an extension of our family, which is why we gladly offer any children or grandchildren of our employees and students of Bedford County the opportunity to attend Horton Haven Christian Camp, completely free of charge. The camp provides a wide variety of activities and programs that instill confidence, creativity, and community in children.

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