Blue Bird Bus coolest thing made in Georgia
From left: Charlie Clark, State Head of Georgia Banking, Pinnacle Financial Partners (now merged with Synovus); Lauren Beaty, Grants and Community Engagement Manager, Blue Bird Corporation; Ted Scartz, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Blue Bird Corporation; and Chris Clark, President and CEO, Georgia Chamber of Commerce. (Provided photo)
ATHENS – On Aug. 5, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced the Blue Bird Vision Electric School Bus at the winner of the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Georgia competition. The announcement was made during the Georgia Chamber’s 2026 Congressional Luncheon.
Manufactured in Fort Valley, the Blue Bird Vision Electric School Bus represents Georgia’s longstanding leadership in innovation and manufacturing. Blue Bird was founded in Fort Valley in 1927 and has remained a Georgia business for nearly 100 years.
The Blue Bird Vision Electric School Bus first debuted at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and was reintroduced to the market in 2018. Today, more than 4,000 Blue Bird electric school buses are operating across the United States. By providing sustainable transportation and reducing emissions, the electric school bus showcases cutting-edge engineering while supporting a more sustainable future. The Blue Bird Vision Electric School Bus is also a testament to the contributions of Fort Valley and Peach County and their enduring legacy of manufacturing excellence.
TifTuf Drought Tolerant Bermudagrass was named the runner-up in this year’s competition. Synovus, now part of Pinnacle Financial Partners, proudly served as the presenting sponsor of the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Georgia competition.
