IC CORPORATION TO EXPAND IN CONWAY
March 23, 2004
Conway, AR — IC Corporation will hire up to 78 new employees at its Conway school bus manufacturing facility, the Arkansas Department of Economic Development and company officials announced today.
"This is great news for Conway and for the state," said Gov. Mike Huckabee. "Conway has been known for making school buses for more than 50 years. This announcement is an example of how auto-related industries continue to do well in Arkansas."
IC Corporation and its predecessors, American Transportation and Ward Bus, have been a corporate neighbor in Conway since 1933, making it one of Conway's oldest businesses. With nearly 1,200 employees, the company is Conway's largest industrial employer.
"The $8.5 million expansion will include upgraded tooling and equipment for the manufacture of the newly designed Conventional CE bus model at the Conway facility. The project also involves continued investment in the next generation of integrated bus product lines including RE and FE transit models. Additionally, a bus chassis model that was produced at a sister plant in Ohio will now be built in Conway." said Bob Whitehouse, President and CEO of IC Corporation.
"The Conway Development Corp. has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with IC Corporation," said Bill Hegeman, president of the Conway Development Corp. "As the state rightly focuses on recruiting and growing the automotive industry here, it is sometimes easy to forget that automotive manufacturing and assembly has taken place in Conway since the 1930s. IC Corporation and their associated suppliers have a tremendous economic impact on our state."
Headquartered in Conway, IC Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of International Truck and Engine Corporation of Warrenville, Ill. The Conway facility and a sister plant in Tulsa, Okla., produce a variety of integrated school buses for the pupil transportation industry.
"We're extremely pleased about IC Corporationís investment in Conway and their confidence in the skilled workforce here to build their newest line of buses," said Larry Walther, ADED director. "These new jobs will have a significant impact in the lives of many people."
"IC Corporation continues to reaffirm their commitment to Conway and their belief in the regionís workforce," said Mayor Tab Townsell, "We are proud to be a continuing part of IC Corporation's corporate strategy. From their large engineering presence to their highly-skilled production workers, IC is a crucial part of our economy."
CONTACT:
Mitch Chandler, 501-682-5154
mchandler@1-800-ARKANSAS.com
Brad Lacy, Director of Economic Development
Conway Development Corporation
501-329-7788
