PEMBINA, N.D. (KFGO) – North Dakota Senator John Hoeven announced Thursday that a bus manufacturing plant in Pembina will remain open. The news comes a year and a half after Canadian-based NFI Group said it would shutter the Motor Coach Industries (MCI) factory.
Hoeven said NFI Group informed him it would continue operations at the facility after months of discussions to try and preserve it. In September of 2022, Hoeven along with the rest of the state’s congressional delegation asked MCI to reconsider its decision to close the plant, which has been a key employer in the small northeast North Dakota community of Pembina since 1963.
At the time, company officials maintained they were unable to find skilled workers in Pembina but Machinists Union leadership took issue with that claim, saying they had offered to partner with the company on recruiting and apprenticeship programs to meet its workforce needs.
Hoeven said he has spoken repeatedly with MCI President Chris Stoddart since the company announced the planned closure, outlining the importance of the facility to the region’s economy and working to identify ways to keep it in operation.
“This is tremendous news for the community of Pembina and the surrounding region, which will not only have the existing jobs maintained, but will see additional investment brought to the MCI facility,” said Hoeven. “We are pleased that MCI has listened to our calls and decided to remain in North Dakota, and we look forward to our continued efforts together to meet the workforce and operational needs of this and other businesses.”
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