Blue Bird to Expand in Fort Valley

ATLANTA, July 24, 2008 – Blue Bird announced today plans to open a new fabrication facility in Fort Valley. 'Blue Bird has been a core business in Georgia for decades,' said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. 'They have been able to make the best of the good things Georgia has to offer manufacturers, including a first class workforce and excellent logistics network. We are pleased Blue Bird is continuing to grow in our great state.' Blue Bird, based in Fort Valley for over 80 years, will locate its new fabrication facility in the former Dan River building in Fort Valley. The company plans to improve the 334,000-square-foot building, with an expected production date of January 2009. The facility will also be utilized to warehouse fabricated parts and other school bus body and chassis parts. Examples of fabricated parts include headliners and inside side metals, rub-rails and bows used in the assembly of school bus bodies. In addition, the Fabrication Department will recycle on average over 1,000 pieces a day of scrap steel. Georgia Quick Start and Middle Georgia Technical College will collaborate on a training program for new hires. 'We are excited that one of our long-standing existing industries, Blue Bird, has decided to expand here in Peach County,' said James Khoury, Peach County Commission Chairman. 'Their growth will have a great impact on our community, and we're glad to do our part to assist.' Ryan Waldrep, project manager with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, assisted Blue Bird in its expansion. Blue Bird offers a complete line of Type A, C and D school buses in a variety of options and configurations. For over 80 years, Blue Bird Corporation has continued to set industry standards with its innovative design and manufacturing capabilities. Today, Blue Bird has over 1,800 employees, two Georgia-based manufacturing facilities and an extensive network of dealers and service-parts facilities throughout North America. Its global presence can be seen in more than 60 countries through sales into Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit the Blue Bird Corporation website at www.blue-bird.com  or contact Ron Smith, Director – Marketing, at (478) 822-2492, fax: (478) 822-2466, email: [email protected]. The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm. The agency attracts new business, encourages the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, and locates new markets for Georgia products. It also markets Georgia to tourists and promotes the state as a location for film, music and digital entertainment projects. For more information, visit www.Georgia.org.