- Invests up to $1 million for 4T Academy
- Provides 10 Sienna vehicles to partner schools through Driving Possibilities funding
- Opens $3 million Toyota Maintenance Training Center
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (July 29, 2024) – Today, Toyota announced three large-scale workforce readiness initiatives at its Kentucky plant to develop future talent and further train its highly-skilled team members.
4T Academy to Offer Full Industry Immersion
In collaboration with Scott County Schools, Toyota is investing up to $1 million to launch and sustain the 4T Academy (Team, Teach, Together, Toyota), a hands-on training program that will provide juniors and seniors with a direct pathway to a manufacturing career.
Students in the program will follow a state-approved curriculum in traditional high school classes while learning and training in a simulated factory environment. 4T Academy will house a collaborative classroom space, electric and pneumatic tool training stations, a simulated vehicle production line, and many other high-tech components. Seniors enrolled in 4T Academy will earn around $18 an hour while working alongside industry experts at Toyota Kentucky.
“We feel fortunate to partner with Toyota Kentucky to launch the first 4T Academy in Kentucky,” said Billy Parker, superintendent of Scott County Schools. “Toyota has been a critical long-time partner of our schools and this community. As a result of this partnership and our continued collaboration, Scott County students will be afforded unique opportunities that will last long past high school.”
For more information on 4T, visit www.4TAcademy.com.
Driving Possibilities Initiative Celebrates Milestone
July 2024 marks the one-year anniversary of Toyota’s Driving Possibilities program in partnership with select schools in Fayette and Scott Counties. As a next step in its strategic plan, Toyota is providing 10 Sienna vehicles to partner schools to help meet student transportation challenges.
Driving Possibilities, a Toyota USA Foundation initiative, centers on three key areas in Kentucky: expand literacy and language resources, build education and industry partnerships, and address transportation barriers. The career readiness initiative aims to close educational gaps through hands-on science, technology, engineering and math programming while addressing the essential needs of students and families.
Since launching last summer, Driving Possibilities has invested over $3 million in Scott and Fayette County Schools and will provide up to $5.7 million during the next several years.
Toyota Maintenance Training Center Unveiled
Not only is Toyota developing its future workforce, but the company also continues to invest heavily in its current employees. The grand opening of its new 20,000-square-foot, $3 million onsite training center will provide team members with the opportunity to learn new technologies and advanced manufacturing processes.
“I’ve been a proud Toyota team member for 30 years and I am thankful for the job security and advancement opportunities that I have been offered,” said Bryan Hodel, skilled maintenance group leader. “Over the years, I have seen Toyota’s commitment to providing long-term employment first-hand as I worked my way from a production team member to group leader in skilled maintenance.”
Toyota Kentucky is Toyota’s largest plant globally, employing nearly 10,000 Kentuckians in high-quality, stable advanced manufacturing careers.
“By providing good jobs for our families and investing in our communities, Toyota has always been a great Team Kentucky partner,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said. “We applaud their continued growth and efforts to expanded educational opportunities for our amazing workforce. Thanks to partners like Toyota, Kentucky became and will remain a national leader in the automotive industry
The plant represents a nearly $10 billion investment, producing the Camry Hybrid, America’s best-selling sedan for 22 consecutive years, and the RAV4 Hybrid.
“Our most valuable assets are our team members – they are our heart,” said Kerry Creech, president of Toyota Kentucky. “That’s why we continuously invest time and resources into developing our people and providing students with strong career pathways for our future
In late 2025/early 2026, Toyota Kentucky will become the first Toyota facility in North America to assemble a battery electric vehicle.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 49,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 34 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 29 electrified options.
To help inspire the next generation for a career in STEM-based fields, including mobility, Toyota launched its virtual education hub at www.TourToyota.com with an immersive experience and chance to virtually visit many of our U.S. manufacturing facilities. The hub also includes a series of free STEM-based lessons and curriculum through Toyota USA Foundation partners, virtual field trips and more.
For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
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