Central States Bus Sales, a Missouri-based company in business for almost 50 years, plans on expanding its operations in Alabama by building a 20,000-square-foot facility in the City of Prattville's West Industrial Park.
The expansion will cost between $2.5-3.5 million while creating 25 full-time and five part-time jobs. The salaries range from $18 to $38 an hour plus benefits. The Prattville Industrial Development Board agreed on November 10 to sell the 8.67 acres for the appraised value of $240,000.
The Prattville location will handle school buses along with military and municipal fleet buses. The site will not build buses but will outfit them to customer needs and provide contract maintenance. Additionally, Central States has partnered with Blue Bird to bring Electric School Buses to the region. An EV charging station will be installed at their facility to power the buses they sell and service.
Per CEO Jeff Reitz, Alabama service contracts are currently handled out of Nashville, Tennessee. He said, "The choice of coming to Prattville was easy because Prattville is growing and close to I-65 and I-85, which is two and a half hours from the bus manufacturing plant in Georgia."
"Central States Bus Sales investment in the West Industrial Park is a win for the City of Prattville. As the newest Partner of Prattville, I welcome them home and look forward to seeing this project come to fruition," said Mayor Bill Gillespie, Jr.