PLATTSBURGH — A deal to bring an electric bus manufacturer to the North Country has been given national recognition, providing the region’s already strong manufacturing reputation another boost.
“This is testament to the extraordinary team that made this deal happen, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and Empire State Development who were rock stars every step of the way, the Clinton County IDA, TDC and the Town of Plattsburgh, along with Sen. Chuck Schumer and Assemblyman Billy Jones,” North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said.
“We appreciate Business Facilities’ recognition of this exceptional demonstration of teamwork and the successful strategies that made it all possible, and we again thank our entire team for showing how our small area punches above its weight.”
IMPACT AWARD
Douglas was referring to Business Facilities magazine recognizing the Micro Bird deal in Plattsburgh among 20 recipients of its 2024 Impact Awards nationwide.
Business Facilities is a leading publication for corporate site selectors. It annually spotlights economic development organizations for their work in securing significant projects with a focus on capital investment, job creation, innovation, and impact on communities.
Micro Bird said in late 2024 that it would move into the Nova Bus facility on Banker Road in the Town of Plattsburgh after Nova Bus leaves later this year.
Micro Bird is a manufacturer of electric school buses out of Drummondville, Quebec in Canada.
DEDICATION, COLLABORATION
Douglas and the chamber led the effort to find a replacement for Nova Bus, which culminated in landing Micro Bird.
Molly Ryan, the executive director of the Clinton County IDA, said the recognition of the Micro Bird project as one of the 2024 Impact Award winners underscores the incredible opportunities that have been cultivated here in Clinton County.
“This achievement is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of the Clinton County Industrial Development Agency, the North Country Chamber of Commerce, TDC and our regional partners,” Ryan said.
“Together, we’ve worked tirelessly to create an environment that supports growth, innovation, and long-term success for projects like Micro Bird, which will undoubtedly have a transformative impact on our community and economy. We are proud to have played a part in bringing this vision to life and look forward to building on this momentum.”
COLLECTIVE EFFORTS
Danielle King, president and CEO of TDC, said being part of the team that brought Micro Bird to Plattsburgh and helped bring this transformative project to life demonstrates the power of collaboration and the strength of our regional partnerships.
“TDC is proud to have worked alongside the state of New York, North Country Chamber of Commerce, Clinton County IDA, and all our partners to create an environment where innovation and opportunity can thrive,” King said.
“This recognition highlights the impact of our collective efforts, and we remain committed to driving future growth and success in the North Country.”
Douglas said the five key elements of the area’s success were our special economic synergy with Quebec, the creation of our large and growing cluster of transportation equipment manufacturers, our talented workforce with our strong training platform, and our ability to directly engage our top state and federal officials when needed.
“Wrap that up in real collaboration and teamwork, and we have a story that will now be seen by site selection interests across North America. Onward and upward!”
Full coverage will be featured in the upcoming January/February edition of Business Facilities.