In his latest update to backers, Coolest Cooler creator Ryan Grepper wrote that the company's factories are once again ready to produce coolers, with delivery guaranteed by July 4 for those willing to pay an extra $97.

Of the 36,000 still waiting for their coolers, more than 10,000 expressed interest in the pay-more option, Grepper wrote.

This development means that those who helped Grepper break Kickstarter's crowdfunding record in 2014 could be one step closer to their long-awaited coolers, originally promised last spring.

In an update to backers last week, Grepper outlined three ways the struggling company was working to deliver coolers to those who are still waiting:

It would start selling to the general public, using the profits to produce and deliver backers' coolers.

It would continue to court investors.

And, if enough backers expressed interest, it would offer an option for backers to pay an extra $97 - the cost to manufacture and deliver the coolers - to get their cooler by the 4th of July.

"I've just returned from China and confirmed that yes, the factories are ready to turn on production," he wrote. "We're now determining how many units we can make in this short window because frankly we can't make this guarantee to you without a guarantee from them."

Grepper promised to send backers an email on Tuesday, April 26, with more information and participation instructions. There will be a limited number of coolers available under this plan, and the deadline for those interested is Friday, April 29, he wrote.

He reminded backers that paying the extra fee is not required.

-- Anna Marum

amarum@oregonian.com

503-294-5911

@annamarum