Collaboration with BridgeValley Community and Technical
College & local Workforce Development Board will help source
employees to manufacture all-electric school buses by
mid-2022
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va.,
Feb. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/
-- GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (NASDAQ: GP) (TSXV: GPV)
("GreenPower"), a leading manufacturer and distributor of
zero-emission, electric-powered medium- and heavy-duty vehicles,
today announced a partnership with BridgeValley Community &
Technical College and the Workforce Development Board of
Kanawha County. The program will
provide workforce development and training opportunities for
potential employees at its South
Charleston all-electric school bus manufacturing
facility.
"GreenPower is excited to partner with BridgeValley to provide
hands-on training to workers that join our manufacturing team here
in the Kanawha Valley," said Brendan
Riley, President of GreenPower. "The college offers
leading-edge technology, innovative ideas and dynamic education
opportunities for students and the community, and their programs
will benefit our workforce and production processes immensely."
"We are delighted to support GreenPower with workforce training
programs in preparation for the opening of their new manufacturing
facility in West Virginia," said
Dr. Casey Sacks, President of
BridgeValley. "BridgeValley has a strong history of partnering with
local companies to train and prepare our citizens for great new
jobs right here in West Virginia.
We look forward to a highly successful partnership on this exciting
and important initiative for our communities and the state of
West Virginia."
On January 12th Gov.
Jim Justice announced that
GreenPower had entered into a lease/purchase agreement with the
state of West Virginia to acquire
properties located in South
Charleston with 9.5 acres and an 80,000 square foot building
where it plans to be manufacturing zero-emission, all-electric
school buses by the middle of 2022. The state will provide up to
$3.5 million in employment incentive
payments to GreenPower for creating up to 900 jobs in the state as
vehicle production increases over time.
"As West Virginia's economy continues to transform, it is
important to provide companies with skilled and high-skilled
workers to help make the transition as seamless as possible," Riley
continued. "Our new all-electric school bus manufacturing operation
will create excellent employment and career development
opportunities for nearby residents and families, with highly
competitive wages and a chance to learn and grow in the exciting
new era of state-of-the-art electric vehicle production."
"GreenPower's location in the Kanawha Valley is transformative
for our community," added Julie
Norman, Executive Director of the Workforce Development
Board of Kanawha County. "This
company's innovative technology brings West Virginia to the forefront of alternative
energy vehicle manufacturing which will provide hundreds of jobs
for West Virginians."
"If you or someone in your life is interested in an exciting new
career – your child, another relative, your neighbor – share this
information with them," Sacks said. "BridgeValley is proud to
partner with GreenPower and other companies here in the Valley to
upskill West Virginians for jobs in our own backyard."
More information is available on the BridgeValley website at
https://www.bridgevalley.edu/greenpower-motor or by calling
304-205-6760.
Contacts:
Brendan
Riley
President, GreenPower Motor Company
(510) 910-3377
Fraser Atkinson
CEO, GreenPower Motor Company
(604) 220-8048
Susan Donahue Skyya PR for GreenPower
(646) 454-9378
Susan.Donahue@skyya.com
Laura McCullough
Vice President, Community and Corporate Education, BridgeValley
Community & Technical College
(304) 205-6611
Julie Norman
Executive Director, Workforce Development Board of Kanawha County
(304) 344-5760
About GreenPower Motor Company Inc.
GreenPower
designs, builds and distributes a full suite of high-floor and
low-floor all-electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, including
transit buses, school buses, shuttles, cargo van, and a cab and
chassis. GreenPower employs a clean-sheet design to manufacture
all-electric vehicles that are purpose built to be battery powered
with zero emissions while integrating global suppliers for key
components. This OEM platform allows GreenPower to meet the
specifications of various operators while providing standard parts
for ease of maintenance and accessibility for warranty
requirements. GreenPower was founded in Vancouver, Canada with primary operational
facilities in southern California.
Listed on the Toronto exchange
since November 2015, GreenPower
completed its U.S. IPO and NASDAQ listing in August 2020. For further information go
to www.greenpowermotor.com.
About BridgeValley Community & Technical
College
BridgeValley promotes student success, prepares a
skilled workforce, and builds tomorrow's leaders by providing
access to quality education. It is the college of opportunity
for a diverse learner population, offering leading-edge technology,
innovative ideas, and dynamic service to our students and our
communities.
About Workforce Development Board of Kanawha County
The Region III Workforce
Development Board of Kanawha
County (WDB-KC) is a private, non-profit organization that
is charged with creating a workforce development system that meets
the current and future needs of the business community as well as
those individuals who are seeking employment. WDB-KC is a proud
partner of the American Job Center network. Its local plan can be
found at
https://www.wdbkc.org/_files/ugd/98d715_efca84e46ff542b398bf74bda65c4c8f.pdf
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains
forward-looking statements relating to, among other things,
GreenPower's business and operations and the environment in which
it operates, which are based on GreenPower's operations, estimates,
forecasts and projections. Forward-looking statements are not based
on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and
projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks
and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ
materially from the future results expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be
identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "upon",
"may", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan",
"anticipate", "expect", "believe" or "continue", or the negative
thereof or similar variations. These statements are not guarantees
of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are
difficult to predict or are beyond GreenPower's control. A number
of important factors including those set forth in other public
filings (filed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com) could
cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those
expressed in these forward-looking statements. Consequently,
readers should not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements. In addition, these forward-looking statements relate to
the date on which they are made. GreenPower disclaims any intention
or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release. © 2022 GreenPower Motor Company Inc. All
rights reserved.
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SOURCE GreenPower Motor Company