C. Tucker Cope & Associates Inc., a design-build general contractor in Columbiana with 37 employees, has kicked off the year with several local building projects, its principals say. 

Among these are three facilities for area townships to house vehicles and equipment, a new bus garage and board office for Carrollton Exempted Village School District, and renovations to the Columbiana County Engineer’s office and maintenance garage, says Tucker Cope, president. “Work will also wrap up on the Campbell Health and Community Development Center, a project expected to serve as a valuable resource to the community,” he says.

The company this year also anticipates more activity in the private sector, Cope says. Many of these projects involve repeat clients who are expanding and need additional manufacturing or storage space, he says, an indication of local economic growth.

Public projects made up the bulk of the company’s work in 2025, driving another year of steady growth across the region, Cope says. 

Last year also brought challenges, Cope says, as tariff restrictions made securing materials more difficult, affecting cost and timelines. “We navigated new contractual requirements calling for domestically produced materials,” he says, though the company has long prioritized U.S.-made products.

Nevertheless, the company in 2025 was listed among Chief Buildings’ top volume dealers – an honor given to the highest purchasers in the country. The firm was also ranked 15th nationwide by Metal Construction News based on tons of steel delivered and square footage of buildings erected. Cope served as a keynote speaker at the annual Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association conference.

C. Tucker Cope & Associates also earned renewal of its AC 478 accreditation, a distinction awarded to metal building contractors who meet the highest industry standards, Cope added.

The company, founded in 1984, continues to invest in the community by supporting programs such as the Brightside Project, Cope says. This initiative provides children with necessities including food, educational opportunities, supplies, clothing and other resources. C. Tucker Cope is also a sponsor of regional youth athletic programs and donates to several local schools. 

Pictured at top: C. Tucker Cope completed construction for Premier Custom Paint & Collision’s offices in Zelienople, Pa.