Mazda Toyota Manufacturing's Huntsville plant built its 1 millionth vehicle and marked it Wednesday with $120,000 in grants to four groups that helped train its workforce.

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing has built its 1 millionth vehicle at its Huntsville plant.

The company marked the milestone Wednesday, Oct. 28, with a celebration at the plant. It also handed out $120,000 in grants to four organizations that helped it train workers from start-up to today. The company announced both in a release published by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.

What the plant builds

The plant is a joint venture between Mazda Motor Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. It builds two crossovers, and the company celebrated the milestone with one of each:

  • the Toyota Corolla Cross and Corolla Cross hybrid
  • the Mazda CX-50 and CX-50 hybrid

The company said the $2.3 billion facility has created more than 4,500 jobs. It credited those 4,500 team members and its community partners for the milestone.

“Reaching one million vehicles is an extraordinary accomplishment and a testament to the dedication, skill and teamwork demonstrated by our team members every day,” said Erik Skaggs, senior vice president for Mazda Toyota Manufacturing.

Who gets the $120,000

The company said the grants go to groups that supported it with training and workforce development:

  • Calhoun Community College
  • Kids to Love
  • Morgan County Schools
  • the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association

The release did not say how the $120,000 is split among the four.

Chip Cherry, president and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, called the company “an invaluable part of our community and regional economy.”

“Through their investment in local organizations, workforce development and regional partnerships, MTM continues to demonstrate what it means to be a great community partner,” Cherry said.

The Chamber has posted a photo album from the celebration on Flickr.

What it means for you

  • Jobs: the plant employs more than 4,500 people, the company said. Job openings are on the company’s own website.
  • Training: two of the four grants go to schools that train future workers, Calhoun Community College and Morgan County Schools.

The latest jobless figures for the county are in our Madison County unemployment report, and local employers are listed in our Huntsville business directory.