YPSILANTI, Mich. — Ypsilanti Community Schools will soon have 10 electric buses thanks to $3.95 million in federal funding announced Wednesday by EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore. The grant supports the district's efforts to reduce harmful diesel emissions and improve air quality in the communities that its buses travel through each day, Shore said.

The bus manufacturer and the districts worked closely to meet the requirements of the grant, which is intended to help transportation professionals make decisions about the best type of school buses for their fleets. Ypsilanti Community Schools chose to purchase buses supplied by Hoekstra Transportation, a company that specializes in the sales of new and used school, commercial, cargo and custom vans.

Hoekstra Transportation, owned by the Hoekstra family of companies, is Michigan's largest school bus and cargo van dealership and outfitter of work-ready vehicles and snow and ice removal equipment. Founded in 1928, the family business also includes Hoekstra Truck Equipment, a large sales and service dealership for Freightliner Sprinter vans.

Drivers at Hoekstra Transportation say they are treated like valued employees and that the company provides them with enough miles to earn a great living. "They have an excellent safety record and pay above average," says Ron Leoni, a driver at the company for more than 12 years. "You can always count on a first class experience with them." The family business provides shipment, in-house logistics, warehousing, brokerage and 24-hour customer support services.