WASHINGTON D.C./PEORIA, Ill. – The Greater Peoria region will be the home to the first United States facility for a Canadian transit company.
Governor J.B Pritzker on Tuesday announced an investment by Damera into the region.
Damera will invest $31.5 million over the next four years with support from the state’s Reimaging Energy and Vehicles in Illinois agreement. The company will distribute the Karsan eJEST, a zero-emission mini-bus aimed for public transit that can carry 19 passengers with a range of 130 miles.
Greater Peoria Region Economic Development Council CEO Chris Setti says Damera will lease a facility in East Peoria as a sales and service point for the next year. Following that, the company will build an assembly plant that can deploy additional models, and create at least 90 jobs.
The plant is expected to be finished by the 2nd half of 2026. Setti says the location of the plant is still being worked on.
Setti says the region won out a nationwide search by Damera.
“The logistical advantages of Illinois, and central Illinois in particular, and our really great workforce, generational manufacturing workforce in our community, helps us win out,” Setti said.
Setti says establishing Damera in the region shows momentum for manufacturing, citing Epic Medical and Amazon coming to Pekin in the past few years. He says moves such as those show businesses that the Greater Peoria region is a place to do business.
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