Hands-on training: Toyota Mississippi’s partnership with New Albany schools

BLUE SPRINGS, Miss. (WCBI) – Toyota Mississippi will help put high school students in New Albany to work at the Blue Springs plant.

The automaker’s 4T Academy will come to New Albany and Union County schools. The 4T Academy is a hands-on training program designed to place students directly into Toyota production jobs after they graduate.

The partnership was announced at the Blue Springs plant during a Workforce Readiness Forum.

Toyota will commit $2 million to the program, which will allow high school juniors and seniors to take part in classroom work and also give them paid internships at the plant.

The program starts by introducing students to possibilities in advanced manufacturing.

“Not only introduces them to it but gives them the opportunity to develop skills to do the job and be able to experience the job before they finish high school so it really prepares them for jobs in advanced manufacturing,” said Erik Skaggs, President of Toyota Mississippi.

“While obviously, we want to prepare students and help them be gainfully employed at Toyota, Toyota is not just focused on that. They are focused on the entire region and state, and that’s the beauty of the partnership we have with them. It’s been outstanding and it’s moved fast,” said Dr. Lance Evans, New Albany School District Superintendent.

The 4T Academy for New Albany juniors and seniors will start in 2024.

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