GLENDALE, Ariz. — School bus sales and service provider Canyon State Bus Sales opened the doors to a new facility here last week.

At an April 20 event for the Blue Bird dealership’s new facility, Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers drove a school bus through a ceremonial ribbon to cut it (see video below).

The 27,500-square-foot facility was developed from the ground up by Canyon State and allows the company to increase its staff by 15% immediately. This first building owned by the company is 60% larger than the company’s previous headquarters in Phoenix.

Canyon State’s move to a bigger facility in Glendale coincides with rising sales of propane autogas school buses, according to the dealership. Last month, Canyon State supplied 73 Blue Bird Vision Propane buses for Kyrene School District in Tempe.

“This new location offers us efficiencies and growth opportunities to better serve our customers, particularly with the significant increase of propane buses that we’ve sold in the past three years,” said Phil Polizzatto, president of Canyon State Bus Sales.

As part of the move to the new facility, Canyon State hired six additional employees and plans to continue increasing its staff. The new facility will also allow the company to expand into other areas of transportation, such as shuttle and commercial buses.

In addition to Mayor Jerry Weiers and other local dignitaries, the ceremony for the new facility was attended by John Kwapis, chief operating officer of Blue Bird, and Steve Girardin, president of Micro Bird.

The new building is located at 5600 W. Claremont St. in Glendale.

Canyon State Bus Moves To Glendale from Kari Sliva on Vimeo.