By DAN HEATH
PLATTSBURGH — Nova Bus has a $10 million order from the City of Honolulu for 24 buses.
The buses will be assembled at the company’s Banker Road facility in the Town of Plattsburgh. Delivery is expected in late 2010.
Nova Bus President and CEO Gilles Dion said the company is thrilled by the opportunity to work with the innovative administration of Honolulu.
“We realize the pivotal role public transit plays in their community, and we will work diligently to make this partnership a mutual success,” he said in a news release.
Nova Bus has received more than $120 million in contracts from the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s New York City Transit, CT Transit in Connecticut and others since it opened its Plattsburgh facility in 2009.
The plant allows the company to meet U.S. content provisions that are part of many transit contracts.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said the contract is a huge win for the North Country.
“This contract will strengthen Nova’s bottom line, provide job security to its workers and act as an economic shot in the arm for the region.
“Having Nova’s buses on display in new markets will be great for its business and great for Upstate New York.”
U.S. Rep. Bill Owens (D-Plattsburgh) offered congratulations to the company and those who work to bring jobs to the North Country.
“This is great news for the Town of Plattsburgh and the entire North Country. Many of us have worked for many years at job creation, which is my No. 1 priority in Congress.”
Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Bernie Bassett said it’s great to see more work come to the Plattsburgh plant. That helps keep the company’s approximately 250 workers employed, as well workers at Nova Bus suppliers.
“I am again very excited and pleased Nova Bus and the factory in Plattsburgh have been chosen for this order. It’s also exciting to see an order from a community as far away as Hawaii,” Bassett said. “To have Plattsburgh on the lips of any other municipality is great.”
Places that have a successful relationship with Nova Bus are likely to spread the word, Bassett said, which can help the company land additional contracts in the future. It could also attract the attention of other potential investors to the region.
The contract also contains options for additional buses, but the company said the number and value has yet to be determined.
The Nova Bus LFS is built around a stainless-steel structure, which provides corrosion resistance, critical in a sea-air climate such as Honolulu.
The bus also features the latest model, clean diesel engines, which meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2010 emissions guidelines.
E-mail Dan Heath at:
dheath@pressrepublican.com
