LAFAYETTE IS LOSING THE BLUE BIRD PLANT, AGAIN.  THIS TIME, THE CLOSURE MEANS THE LOSS OF 350 JOBS.  THE PLANT, WHICH BUILDS SCHOOL BUSES, WILL BE SHUTTERED AUGUST 30th.

 BLUE BIRD WILL CENTRALIZE ALL LARGE BUS ASSEMBLY INTO ITS FORT VALLEY, GEORGIA PLANT… A MOVE WHICH IT HAS MADE BEFORE.  THE LAFAYETTE PLANT SAT IDLE FOR YEARS… AND AT ONE POINT, WAS LEASED TO ROPER FOR STORAGE OF IT’S RANGE REPLACEMENT PARTS OPERATION. 

IN RECENT YEARS, THE PLANT HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS.   INDUSTRY WEEK MAGAZINE NAMED THE COMPANY ONE OF THE TOP 25 PLANTS IN NORTH AMERICA FOR 2005 AND 2006.  IN 2007, IT WAS NAMED IN THE TOP 10 PLANTS IN NORTH AMERICA.  AT IT’S PEAK, THE PLANT’S PAYROLL PUT 17-MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE AREA ECONOMY.

BLUE BIRD OFFICIALS BLAMED THE CLOSE ON "THE CHALLENGING U.S. ECONOMIC CLIMATE"… WHICH HAS CAUSED THE SCHOOL BUS INDUSTRY TO DECLINE IN RECENT YEARS.  COMPANY OFFICIALS SAY IT WAS IN NO WAY A REFLECTION ON THE LOCAL WORKFORCE.  THE COMPANY SAID IT WOULD PROVIDE SEVERANCE TO EMPLOYEES… AND ASSISTANCE WITH FINDING EMPLOYMENT.

 

WQCH