Nova Bus: “Driven by Your City”
 
Next time you jump on a bus to get from point “a” to point “b,” check to see if it’s a Nova Bus. With thousands of urban transit vehicles on the roads in the United States and Canada, there’s a good chance the Quebec-based company outfitted the local fleet responsible for keeping your community on the move   With the 2009 opening of Nova Bus’ Plattsburgh, New York assembly plant—its only facility in the United States—the North American leader in design, production and marketing of urban transit buses, is even further establishing itself as a contender for contracts across the country.  
 
Until recently, Nova Bus’ focus was on the Canadian urban transit market but as the company grew, so did the need to better serve its American clientele and compete in the U.S. transit bus market.  To accomplish this, Nova Bus needed first to meet the Federal Transit Administrations’ Buy American requirements.  These regulations mandate a majority of a bus’s parts be manufactured and assembled in the U.S. in order for the bus to be purchased using FTA funds.  After considering locations in several east coast states for its new operation, Nova Bus found its answer just across the border in Plattsburgh, New York. 
 
Ms. Nadine Bernard, Nova Bus Marketing Director explains: “Nova Bus’s decision to expand into Clinton County was greatly influenced by the availability of New York State’s Empire Zone benefits and the unified “can do attitude” of all involved parties, including Jim Jacob from Empire State Development, Supervisor Bernie Basset and the Town of Plattsburgh, Adoré F. Kurtz and The Development Corporation staff, Matthew Boire from CDC Real Estate and Garry Douglas with the Plattsburgh North Country Chamber of Commerce.”
 
The North Country city offers proximity to the company’s headquarters in Quebec and valuable access to New York State’s many transit authorities—both of which will allow Nova Bus to better market and sell its vehicles.  New York State currently has more than 10,000 transit buses and is home to five of the top 50 public transportation bus systems in the country.
 
What’s more, Plattsburgh’s strategic location is close to Montreal and is an easy jaunt to Interstate 87, a direct route to the state capital of Albany and the state’s largest city, New York City.  These traits lead to the city’s prominence as a large trade center for a city of its size.  The area’s skilled workforce, welcoming business community and quality of life were additional selling points. 
 
Assistance from New York State in the form of a $1.3 million JOBS Now capital grant sealed the deal, allowing Nova Bus to meet the needs and requirements of its business partners and expand its operations into New York.
 
Ms Bernard says Nova Bus is proud to be an active member of the United States economy: “In 2009, Nova Bus created more than 200 new direct green jobs in the state of New York while purchasing parts and components from more than 150 suppliers across the United States.”
 
Nova Bus opened its 140,000 square foot plant in the Banker Road Industrial Park on June 15, 2009.  Its first U.S. customer was the New York City Transit Authority for 90 LFS Articulated buses.  Today, the Plattsburgh plant is a hustle and bustle of activity, proudly serving many clients. The hugely successful, world class facility is equipped to assemble the entire line of LFS vehicles, including the 40-foot diesel-fueled Nova LFS, the hybrid electric LFS vehicles and the 62-foot articulated LFS Artic.
 
“It was clear Nova Bus was ready to make a commitment to the United States’ market and ESD was willing and able to assist in any way we could, specifically addressing the company’s individualized needs and working with our economic development partners in the Plattsburgh community to bring the business home,” said ESD’s North Country Regional Director Peter Wohl.  “Not only does Nova Bus plan to create up to 300 new jobs for the region by 2012, it is an international company that reinforces the state’s North Country region as a North American hub for transportation equipment manufacturing.”
 
Nova Bus’s presence in the North Country furthers the state’s goal of being able to better compete in the global marketplace. Specializing in this, ESD’s International Division is also available to help foreign business relocate to or establish a presence in New York State. According to 2007 statistics, foreign direct investment in New York is 86.2 billion and 433,600 New Yorkers are employed by these foreign-owned companies. 
 
Nova Bus is a leading provider of sustainable transit solutions in North America, including hybrid buses, high-capacity vehicles and integrated intelligent transportation systems. The company relies on a team of more than 1,100 experts who are driven by public transit’s challenges with regard to mobility, safety, and productivity. Nova Bus is part of the Volvo Bus Corporation.

Story Updates
"City of Honolulu partners with Nova Bus"

“Connecticut Transit to add 35 Nova LFD Artic buses to its fleet; orders will be assembled in Plattsburgh”

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