Bates Footwear, a division of Wolverine World Wide Inc., will complete development and manufacture 10,000 pairs of Tora Bora Alpine Combat Boots under a new $2.2 million government contract with the U.S. Special Operations Command. Bates will manufacture the boot with 100% U.S.-sourced materials at U.S.-based ISO 9001:2000 compliant manufacturing facilities in Rockford, Michigan; Big Rapids, Michigan; and Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Wolverine World Wide Chief Executive Officer Blake W. Krueger said, “We are honored to be a source of technical innovation for the Special Forces and strive to design the best possible footwear solutions that meet the specific needs of the U.S. military. In doing so, we are pleased to continue to develop domestically manufactured footwear that employs cutting edge technologies cultivated through the creative synergy between the Bates and Merrell divisions.”

Bates will be equipping its factories with advanced equipment to enable the construction of this state-of-the-art boot and conduct training for the employees on new manufacturing techniques. These resources will equip the employees with highly specialized manufacturing skills to build the complex footwear – a vital tool for the men and women who are serving in uniform.

Recognizing the military’s need for domestically manufactured, high-performance technical footwear, Bates Footwear has received strong Congressional support from Members of Congress, particularly Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR), Rep. Dave Camp (R-4th/MI) and Rep. Marion Berry (D-01/AR).

“From their body armor to their boots, our men and women in uniform should have cutting-edge equipment at their disposal,” Senator Pryor said. “I applaud Bates for developing innovative footwear that better meets the needs of our soldiers, and I appreciate the hard work of their employees in Jonesboro and elsewhere.”

“We have a responsibility to give the brave men and women in uniform who defend our country the best equipment available,” said Congressman Berry. “By providing the soldiers with this valuable tool, Bates is also developing a highly-trained and specialized workforce in Jonesboro, which will benefit the community. I’m proud Arkansas will play a role in improving the equipment for our Special Operations Forces and commend the work Bates is doing to aid our troops in their mission and keep them safe from harm.”

Congressman Dave Camp said, “I am pleased that Bates workers continue to innovate and produce the most cutting-edge footwear available to suit the specialized needs of our Special Operations Forces. It is important news that our troops will continue to have the best products available as they serve our country.”