New 1-million-square-foot manufacturing facility will produce school buses across diesel, gasoline, propane and electric powertrains.
ATLANTA, GA (Octobr 21, 2026) — Blue Bird Corporation plans to invest an estimated $300 million in a new school bus manufacturing facility in Fort Valley, Georgia, creating 375 jobs over the next three years. The expansion will strengthen the company’s longstanding presence in Peach County, where it has manufactured school buses for generations.
The project will convert a former diesel-powered motorhome manufacturing site at 401 Wanderlodge Way into a facility producing Type C school buses. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
New Fort Valley Facility to Expand School Bus Production
The planned 1-million-square-foot facility will manufacture school buses with diesel, gasoline, propane and electric powertrains, supporting the varied transportation needs of school districts.
Blue Bird currently supports more than 1,900 employees in Georgia. Its latest investment will add manufacturing, operations and technician positions while expanding production capabilities in Middle Georgia.
“Georgia is where Blue Bird was born, and it has been our home for nearly 100 years. Every bus that rolls out of our plant carries the pride of the people across Middle Georgia who build it,” said John Wyskiel, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “Our new facility in Fort Valley is our way of investing back into the community where we will continue to build more of the safe, dependable buses that school districts rely on, so we can keep getting children to school safely for the next hundred years.”
Peach County Investment Builds on Nearly a Century of Manufacturing
Founded in 1927, Blue Bird has remained a major part of Georgia’s automotive manufacturing industry while developing school bus technologies focused on safety, reliability and durability.
Governor Brian P. Kemp said the expansion demonstrates the continuing growth of established manufacturers in Georgia and their ability to adapt to changing markets.
“For nearly 100 years, Blue Bird has been an incredible part of Georgia’s story, and now that story will continue to be written for years to come,” said Governor Kemp.
Local leaders highlighted the project’s significance for employment and economic opportunity in Fort Valley and Peach County.
“For generations, Fort Valley has helped Blue Bird move America forward. Today, Blue Bird is helping Fort Valley move toward a new century of possibilities,” said Fort Valley Mayor Shakeena B. Reeves. “May the next 100 years be defined not only by the buses we manufacture, but by the families we strengthen, the opportunities we create, and the future we build together.”
Peach County Commissioner Roy Lewis described the investment as a major community win, citing the local workforce and cooperation among state and local partners as important factors in the expansion.
State and Local Partners Support Blue Bird Expansion
The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce team, represented by Regional Project Manager Candice Scott, worked on the project in partnership with the Development Authority of Peach County and Georgia Quick Start.
GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson said Blue Bird’s continued investment reflects the company’s enduring connection to Fort Valley and its role in creating manufacturing opportunities in rural Georgia.
The expansion comes as Blue Bird approaches its centennial in 2027, adding another chapter to its manufacturing history in Middle Georgia.
Blue Bird Manufacturing Jobs in Fort Valley
Blue Bird expects to hire for manufacturing, operations and technician roles associated with the expansion. Job seekers can explore career opportunities at www.blue-bird.com/careers.
About Blue Bird Corporation
Founded in 1927, Blue Bird Corporation designs, engineers and manufactures school buses with an emphasis on safety, reliability and durability. The company offers a range of conventional and alternative-powertrain vehicles and has sold more than 25,000 propane, natural gas and electric-powered school buses.
Learn more at www.blue-bird.com.
