"With gas prices at record levels, President Obama is committed to making sure Americans have access to affordable, convenient transit options for reaching their destinations," Porcari said in a statement. "Companies like American Seating are leading that charge, and because over 95% of their materials are made in America, they're creating good-paying jobs for American workers at the same time."

Porcari spoke at American Seating's transportation plant to an audience of employees and government, transportation, and labor leaders. Porcari was accompanied by representatives of Apollo Alliance, the organizers of the multicity series of events to promote investments in transit. The alliance describes itself as "a coalition of labor, business, environmental, and community leaders working to catalyze a clean energy revolution that will put millions of Americans to work in a new generation of high-quality, green-collar jobs."

American Seating was selected as one of the stops because of the major role it plays in the nation's mass-transit system, according to a statement issued by the San Francisco-based Apollo Alliance. Eight out of every 10 bus seats in the United States are made by American Seating, which has been in business for 125 years.

The Apollo Alliance used Thursday's event in Grand Rapids to present a report, "Make It in America: The Apollo Clean Transportation Manufacturing Transportation Action Plan." It cites the need for $30 billion annually for public transportation and $10 billion per year for intercity and high-speed rail. According to the report, bringing transit and rail investments up to these levels will create 3.7 million direct and indirect jobs nationally.

American Seating employs a Grand Rapids-based workforce of almost 500. Of these employees, approximately half work in the company's transportation segment. The company also makes seating and other products for education environments, performing arts and concert halls, sports venues, and office markets.

McDonald Joins Porcari for Event in New York State

Earlier this week, Alstom Transport announced a multimillion dollar investment in its 150,000-square-foot facility in West Henrietta, New York, which will create several hundred new jobs. Alstom executives were joined by Porcari, New York State Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald, local labor leaders, and representatives of Apollo Alliance. They discussed how federal investment in transportation creates green-collar jobs; reduces carbon emissions; and improves the overall safety, comfort, and efficiency of America's transportation system.

Alstom Transport operates the largest passenger rolling stock manufacturing facility in the United States in Hornell, New York, according to the company.