Midwest Bus Corporation, located in Owosso, MI, recently started work on a two-year, $31.4 million contract to remanufacture 192 public transit buses for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, a project that will create approximately 100 new jobs at the company and many more for its suppliers. The contract is the largest remanufacturing project in Midwest’s 33-year history.

To celebrate the historic event, Midwest founder and President Dan Morrill hosted a tour of the company’s plant with APTA Chair Peter Varga, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, and other local officials.

“Having the state’s top executive see firsthand the economic and environmental impact of our industry was a milestone for Midwest,” Morrill said at a press conference during the tour. “Because Michigan lags other states in remanufacturing, it’s important for our policymakers to realize they can help extend scarce transit dollars by creating incentives for remanufacturing.”

Snyder spoke with employees and industry leaders about their work and gave remarks at the press conference to celebrate Midwest’s growth and recognize its positive impact on the environment and on regional, state, and national economies.

“I’m pleased to have joined Midwest Bus and its talented workers to celebrate a project that is creating 100 jobs at the company and many more at suppliers in Michigan and around the country,” Snyder said. “These jobs are coming to Michigan because of the hard work, commitment to excellence, and expertise of this company and its people. They’re an example of how ‘Made in Michigan’ means first-class quality and value across the nation,” he added.

Midwest’s process for rehabilitating public transit buses can save private and public transit organizations millions of dollars over buying fleets of new buses, company officials said. Remanufactured buses also improve the environment by keeping the nation’s assets out of landfills as well as generating lower emissions and better fuel efficiency, among other benefits.

APTA Chair Peter Varga, center, attended a recent tour of Midwest Bus Corporation to celebrate the largest contract in its 33-year history. Meeting with Varga were, from left, Tim Fischer, Michigan Environmental Council; Clark Harder, executive director, Michigan Public Transit Association; and Amy Roddy, Durand city manager.	Midwest Bus founder and President Dan Morrill, right, leads a tour with Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, center, and George Gunn, Midwest director of operations, left, while the local news media videotaped the visit.