Blue Bird Chooses Peach County for $300 Million School Bus Factory

When you think of school buses, you probably picture the big, yellow, diesel‑powered beasts that haul kids to class each morning. Blue Bird, the Georgia‑born company that’s been building those icons since 1927, is about to add a few more chapters to that story.

In a press release from Gov. Brian Kemp’s office, the manufacturer announced a $300 million investment to convert a former diesel‑motorhome plant in Fort Valley into a brand‑new school‑bus factory. The site, sitting roughly 100 miles south of downtown Atlanta, will soon span about a million square feet of floor space.

What does that mean for the community? Blue Bird says the project will generate roughly 375 jobs over the next several years – a welcome boost for Peach County, which has been courting new manufacturing projects for a while now.

The new plant will focus on Type‑C buses, the heavy‑truck‑based models most Georgia families recognize. And it won’t be just the old‑school diesel rigs; the lineup will include diesel, electric, gasoline and even propane power‑train options. It’s a subtle nod to the shifting demands of schools and parents who are increasingly interested in greener, quieter rides.

It’s worth noting that Blue Bird’s electric school bus was recently voted “the coolest thing made in Georgia.” That accolade, while a bit tongue‑in‑cheek, underscores the company’s growing emphasis on zero‑emission vehicles – a trend the new factory is poised to amplify.

For a company that started in a modest Georgia garage nearly a century ago, this feels like a full‑circle moment. From humble beginnings to a multi‑million‑dollar expansion, Blue Bird is reaffirming its roots while looking firmly toward the future of student transportation.

Local officials are upbeat. Peach County’s economic‑development leaders see the plant as a catalyst for ancillary businesses – from parts suppliers to food‑service firms that will serve the new workforce. The community hopes the ripple effect will extend beyond the factory floor and into schools, neighborhoods, and even the state’s broader push toward cleaner energy.

All told, the project is more than just brick‑and‑mortar. It’s a statement: Georgia remains a hub for American manufacturing, and Blue Bird is betting that the next generation of school buses will be built right here, on home‑grown soil.