Micro Bird deal given statewide recognition
PLATTSBURGH — The Micro Bird deal is getting statewide honors.
The attraction of Micro Bird, the electric bus manufacturer set to replace Nova Bus at its Banker Road facility in the Town of Plattsburgh later this year, to Plattsburgh was recently recognized as the 'Economic Development Project of the Year' by the New York State Economic Development Council.
The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Council in Cooperstown.
It was accepted by Abby Praetorius, vice president for Economic Development at the North Country Chamber of Commerce; Steve Hunt, Regional Director of Empire State Development; Molly Ryan, Executive Director of the Clinton County I.D.A.; and Danielle King, President/CEO of TDC.
'The Micro Bird deal was the result of a great team effort and it is great that the team was able to be recognized together,' Garry Douglas, Chamber President, said.
Douglas said other team members deserving thanks include 'Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senator Charles Schumer, Assemblyman Billy Jones, and the Town of Plattsburgh, as well as our new friends and partners at Micro Bird of course who we continue to work actively with as they move toward the start of production.'
'This deal stands out as it is an example of something that is so seldom achieved, that being the attraction of a similar company to replace one which is leaving,' he continued.
'Every team member made an indispensable contribution to the outcome and we thank the NYSEDC for its recognition of the shared success. Onward and upward!'
In June 2023, Nova Bus announced it would be leaving the Banker Road facility within the following two years. In November 2024, Micro Bird announced it would be acquiring the Nova Bus facility and providing employees with the opportunity to transition to similar employment positions at Micro Bird.
Michael S. Cashman, Plattsburgh Town Supervisor, said he's proud the town is part of the team that brought Micro Bird to the community.
'We extend our sincere thanks to the North Country Chamber of Commerce for its steadfast leadership and vision, and to all our regional and state partners who played vital roles. This recognition is a testament to what we can accomplish together when we put collaboration first,' Cashman said.
'At the end of the day, the real award is a new business choosing Plattsburgh and a dedicated workforce continuing to build high-quality products right here in our hometown. We look forward to supporting Micro Bird's bright future here.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Micro Bird deal given statewide recognition
PLATTSBURGH — The Micro Bird deal is getting statewide honors. The attraction of Micro Bird, the electric bus manufacturer set to replace Nova Bus at its Banker Road facility in the Town of Plattsburgh later this year, to Plattsburgh was recently recognized as the 'Economic Development Project of the Year' by the New York State Economic Development Council. The award was presented at the annual meeting of the Council in Cooperstown. It was accepted by Abby Praetorius, vice president for Economic Development at the North Country Chamber of Commerce; Steve Hunt, Regional Director of Empire State Development; Molly Ryan, Executive Director of the Clinton County I.D.A.; and Danielle King, President/CEO of TDC. 'The Micro Bird deal was the result of a great team effort and it is great that the team was able to be recognized together,' Garry Douglas, Chamber President, said. Douglas said other team members deserving thanks include 'Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senator Charles Schumer, Assemblyman Billy Jones, and the Town of Plattsburgh, as well as our new friends and partners at Micro Bird of course who we continue to work actively with as they move toward the start of production.' 'This deal stands out as it is an example of something that is so seldom achieved, that being the attraction of a similar company to replace one which is leaving,' he continued. 'Every team member made an indispensable contribution to the outcome and we thank the NYSEDC for its recognition of the shared success. Onward and upward!' In June 2023, Nova Bus announced it would be leaving the Banker Road facility within the following two years. In November 2024, Micro Bird announced it would be acquiring the Nova Bus facility and providing employees with the opportunity to transition to similar employment positions at Micro Bird. Michael S. Cashman, Plattsburgh Town Supervisor, said he's proud the town is part of the team that brought Micro Bird to the community. 'We extend our sincere thanks to the North Country Chamber of Commerce for its steadfast leadership and vision, and to all our regional and state partners who played vital roles. This recognition is a testament to what we can accomplish together when we put collaboration first,' Cashman said. 'At the end of the day, the real award is a new business choosing Plattsburgh and a dedicated workforce continuing to build high-quality products right here in our hometown. We look forward to supporting Micro Bird's bright future here.'
Hamilton Spectator
09-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Cost of new buses needs double take, per Whitehorse city staff
Prices are increasing for the City of Whitehorse transit fleet expansion On May 5's standing committee meeting, councillors heard that the city's budget will need to be changed to adjust for a nearly $500,000 price increase on an order for five buses. Originally the budget item was marked down as costing $4,109,924, funded with the federal government's Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program's public transit stream. That initial cost estimate was made in 2024. However, prices have increased beyond what was expected and those five buses now cost $495,000 more. Aside from the now confirmed cost of the buses being higher, the additional $495,000 includes a contingency of 3.5 per cent to buffer against any impacts from tariffs or supply chain issues. The $495,000 would come from the Transit Equipment Reserve, a pot of money that can only be used for public transit purposes. That fund clocked in at $4.7 million as December 31, 2023. More recent numbers won't be available until information for the 2024 fiscal year has been finalized, which will happen in the coming months, as per a city spokesperson. Valerie Braga, the city's director of corporate services, told councillors the fund hasn't been used much in the past because there have previously been easy ways of finding funding for public transit. However, moving forward, it looks like finding that funding will be more difficult, she said. The city's contract for the buses is with Quebec-based Nova Bus, said Richard Graham, the city's manager for fleet and transportation. That said, the company has assembly plans on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border. 'We are fairly confident in the pricing, and we are hopeful that we wouldn't need the 3.5 per cent. The wild card is just what may happen globally in terms of additional costs,' said Graham. 'In terms of the costs from Nova Bus as long as we award within the time limits on the pricing, then that price would be fixed for the delivery.' Two of the buses being ordered are set to replace two buses within the city's fleet. Both of the buses due for replacement are from 2008, with over 1 million kilometres on them each. The remaining three buses on the order would be additional buses to bolster the city's fleet. The transfer payment agreement for the new buses is in the final stages but not yet quite solidified — however, Graham said that it would not be long before the agreements are signed. The buses are currently on appendix B of the budget, which means they're not purchased until there is confirmation of external funding — in this case, the money from the federal government. 'So no purchase order or anything can be written until such point as we get the TPA. But once we do, it moves into Appendix A, and the buses can then be ordered,' said Braga. The buses are currently scheduled to be delivered to the city sometime in 2026 or 2027.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nova Bus helping drive transition to sustainable mobility, as its 100% electric bus achieves a key compliance
SAINT-EUSTACHE, Quebec, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nova Bus is proud to announce that its LFSe+ 100% electric bus meets all the requirements of the latest SAE J3105_202305 standard, a must-have for the future of electric mobility in the short term. In response to changing municipality and transit authority needs, the manufacturing company is once again enhancing vehicle performance, further strengthening its position as an electrification leader in the field of urban transportation. Equipped with SAE J3105_202305 compliant software and hardware, the Nova Bus LFSe+ 100% electric bus provides multiple benefits for bus operators. Electric charging of the LFSe+ bus, whether sequential or parallel using an inverted pantograph, will no longer require driver intervention and will now be fully automated for greater safety, efficiency, and performance. It will also make for a more reliable connection between chargers, pantographs, and buses. In the event of a power failure, LFSe+ charging will automatically restart once service is restored, without manual intervention. The LFSe+ will remain compatible with both old and new chargers and inverted pantographs (compliant with the SAE J3105 standard in effect prior to May 2023), ensuring a smooth integration into existing urban transport operator fleets and equipment. "At Nova Bus, we are very proud to continue innovating and supporting the transition to sustainable mobility. We believe in a better future, thanks to our 100% electric vehicles, which are more efficient, more environmentally friendly, and perfectly adapted to the realities of the communities we help serve," said Nova Bus President Paul Le Houillier. About the SAE J3105_202305 standard Visit the website of SAE International, the world's leading authority on the development of mobility standards. About Nova Bus Nova Bus, a member of the Volvo Group, is a leading provider of sustainable transportation solutions in North America. Nova Bus supports transport companies and bus fleet operators in their transition to electromobility with the LFSe+, its 100% electric long-range bus model combining Nova Bus' proven structure and the latest innovations in electric propulsion. Nova Bus is committed to supporting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and making a positive contribution to a greener economy. For more information about Nova Bus' products and services, please visit For more information: Christos KritsidimasVice President, Legal and Public Affairs and External CommunicationsNova Bus phone: +1 (438) 350-0454Email: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
