On Wednesday, September 17, Toyota Alabama gathered with local leaders to announce a new $4.2 million grant for Huntsville City Schools to expand access to STEM education and strengthen student support across the district.

The announcement was made at the new Huntsville City Schools Center for Technology and represents the latest investment from Toyota’s Driving Possibilities initiative. The grant is funded by the Toyota USA Foundation, as well as the manufacturer’s Motor North America and Financial Services divisions.

Marc Perry, president of Toyota Alabama, emphasized the collaborative spirit behind Driving Possibilities.

“Through Driving Possibilities, we’ve been able to bring support and encourage a team-based approach to education. We all play a role in helping the world around us, because we all have a stake in the future,” Perry said.

In partnership with Huntsville City Schools and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Foundation, Toyota will help provide:

A STEM coordinator serving the entire school district
STEM coaches in six elementary and two middle schools to enhance learning across core subjects
Care Closets in 10 schools (from the Caring Link) will be added to provide teachers with quick access to essentials, including new clothing, school supplies, toiletries, and snacks for students
Funding for monthly training sessions provided by Second Mile, to increase parent engagement
Greenpower USA cars for 10 schools to help create manufacturing and project management experience for students

Huntsville City Mayor Tommy Battle delivered remarks at the event, thanking the manufacturer for its partnership.

“By creating hands-on STEM opportunities and addressing educational gaps, Toyota is helping prepare students for the high-demand careers of tomorrow. Their vision is simple, but it’s powerful,” Battle said.

Battle continued, “When we nurture curiosity and build confidence in our young people, we strengthen the entire community. Innovation, collaboration, and community are the hallmarks of Huntsville’s growth. Toyota has embodied those values for nearly a quarter of a century. This new investment ensures the next generation has the tools and opportunities to carry our city forward.”

Huntsville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Clarence Sutton echoed Mayor Battle’s gratitude for Toyota’s strong support of area students and educators.

“On behalf of our district and our board of education, I want to extend our deepest appreciation to Toyota Alabama, and Driving Possibilities for this incredible $4.2 million investment in our schools,” Sutton said.

According to Perry, he and his team at Toyota met with Dr. Sutton to determine specifically what the school district needed.

This grant, in addition to a $6.7 million gift from Toyota in 2023, brings the total for the Driving Possibilities initiative close to $11 million.

The previous grant helped establish the new industrial tech program (INDTECH) at the Huntsville City Schools Center for Technology. The center opened to students this August.

In his comments at the event, Sutton shared the positive results the community has already seen from Toyota’s previous investment.

“We’ve already seen the impact of the very first Driving Possibilities announcement from 2023. With your support, our talent management team expanded our teacher mentoring programs, which limited retention, kept our retention rates high,” Sutton shared.

Lyndsay Ferguson, executive director of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Foundation, emphasized the importance of pairing STEM education with holistic solutions.

“We also recognize that academic success depends on more than just curriculum. Investments in wraparound support like care closets and parent engagement ensure that every student and every family has the opportunity to fully participate in these transformative experiences,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson also noted that these investments benefit not only Huntsville City Schools but also play a vital role in sustaining the overall health and vitality of the region’s workforce development efforts.

“Together we’re excited that we’re building a talent pipeline that begins in the classroom and that extends into every corner of Huntsville’s economy,” Ferguson said.

Reflecting on the nearly $11 million total investment, Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon highlighted the brighter future it offers local students.

“When we look at this grant that Toyota has put in for a total of $11 million, it’s giving so many of our young people an opportunity to make their future brighter, to get out here and be what they dream to be,” McCutcheon said.