Bus manufacturer coming to Morristown, creating hundreds of jobs

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Belgian manufacturer Van Hool plans to invest $47 million on the construction of a new facility.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and representatives from Van Hool NV made the announcement on Thursday.

The plans include opening Van Hool's first U.S. manufacturing operation in Morristown's East Tennessee Progress Center. More than $47 million will be invested to build a 500,000 square foot facility.

Bob Rolfe said,

“Tennessee’s skilled workforce, central location and higher education programs such as the Tennessee Promise continue to attract world-class international companies like Van Hool to our state. Since 2011, foreign-owned businesses have pledged to invest more than $12.5 billion to expand or establish operations in Tennessee, creating more than 51,500 job opportunities for Tennesseans.”

The facility is expected to create for than 600 new jobs in Morristown.

Van Hool CEO Filip Van Hool said,

“The presence of highly-regarded technical schools and well-trained workers in Hamblen County, together with the support and cooperation of all local parties involved, convinced the Van Hool executive board to make the largest investment outside Belgium in Van Hool’s 71-year history.”

Construction of the facility is scheduled to begin in the latter part of 2018, with plans to open at the beginning of 2020.