The interior and detail cleaning of 118 buses and 14 utility vehicles will create six to eight full-time jobs for Deepwood Industries, in addition to a job coach provided by the Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the agency announced this month.

Under the contract, Deepwood Industries will begin cleaning Laketran buses in February.

Detail cleaning consists of all interior surfaces, including seats, floors, interior windows, trim and tracks, walls, ceiling, heating units, overhead compartments, doors, wheelchair lift area, plus sanitizing railings and stanchions.

Deepwood Industries, a nonprofit corporation, provides employment opportunities for individuals enrolled in the Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities adult program who desire employment options.

At its July 25 board meeting, Laketran expanded its partnership with Deepwood by signing a one-year facilities cleaning contract.

Laketran’s Deputy General Manager Ben Capelle said the agency is excited to expand its relationship with Deepwood. “The workforce provided by Deepwood Industries has done an exceptional job performing similar duties through our facilities cleaning contract. The work of detailing a bus is very time-consuming because each bus has to cleaned by hand. We take a lot of pride in the cleanliness of our vehicles because it’s part of the customer experience.”

Deepwood’s Director Bob Fratino said the corporation’s employees are diligent in the work they perform, and are personally connected to the transit agency’s services.

“Many of our employees use Laketran as their mode of transportation. They understand the benefit it has to the community and they’re proud to be part of delivering the service.”

Laketran Board President Brian Falkowski praised the job Deepwood’s employees have done. “They have been a great addition to Laketran,” he said. “I look at expanding this contract as another win-win for both agencies on our long list of working together.”