Manufacturing Day 2025: Toyota, BASF Connect High School, Advanced Training

Across the U.S., manufacturers face a critical challenge: finding skilled workers today while preparing for tomorrow’s innovations. In Huntsville, Alabama, this challenge has become an opportunity. By rethinking workforce development, Huntsville is building a manufacturing talent pipeline that begins well before graduation and continues through higher education and into the workplace.

At the center of this effort is a culture of collaboration. Public education, higher education and industry partners are not working in isolation. Instead, they are co-creating programs that reflect local industry needs and prepare students for high-quality careers.

Industry Partnership in Action

Huntsville’s manufacturers have gone beyond expressing support in words. They are investing in tangible ways to strengthen the city’s future workforce.

A standout example is Toyota USA Foundation’s nearly $11 million investment in workforce development and STEM education in Huntsville City Schools. A cornerstone outcome of that support is the Industrial Technology (INDTECH) program at the Huntsville Center for Technology (HCT), a state-of-the-art career and technical education hub serving local students.

INDTECH bridges classroom learning and industry practice, giving students access to the same advanced tools, concepts and processes used in modern manufacturing while instilling the professionalism and soft skills employers demand. Modeled after and aligned with the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) curriculum at local community colleges, J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College and Calhoun Community College, the program sets out to create a seamless connection between high school and postsecondary training in a new way for the region.

Graduates leave INDTECH with industry-recognized skills and certifications that open multiple pathways: continuing in FAME programs, enrolling in college or entering entry-level roles in the region’s growing manufacturing sector. Through its investment, the ToyotaUSA Foundation has helped shorten the journey from classroom to career, giving local talent an early advantage in high-demand fields.

The foundation’s support is just one part of a broader story about Huntsville’s coordinated approach to workforce development. Other major employers, including Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) and BASF have also stepped forward with funding, equipment and expertise to strengthen the city’s workforce infrastructure.

Through its Leading Industry Growth by Helping Teachers (LIGHT) program, MTM places an industry professional in HCT classrooms two days a week to support teachers and connect lessons directly to real-world applications. The program ensures instruction aligns with current practices while giving students consistent exposure to authentic workplace skills. For educators, LIGHT creates a living connection to the skills employers need most and offers ongoing insight into industry trends.

These industry partners have also helped establish simulated work environments at HCT where classrooms mirror manufacturing facilities. Their support has provided uniforms, tools and other workplace essentials that reinforce professionalism and prepare students for industry expectations. These seemingly small details make a powerful impact—students come to class not only as learners but with the mindset of employees.

Beyond the classroom, manufacturers such as Toyota Alabama, MTM and BASF have opened their doors to students, welcoming them for plant tours and onsite experiences that bring manufacturing to life. These visits allow students to see cutting-edge production environments, meet professionals in a variety of roles and envision themselves in those careers. These are invaluable experiences that help students connect what they learn in school to the real opportunities waiting in Huntsville’s dynamic manufacturing sector.

Together, these investments demonstrate how Huntsville has turned collaboration into a competitive advantage. The city’s workforce ecosystem doesn’t just teach technical skills; it strives to instill the discipline, problem-solving and professionalism that define success in today’s advanced industries.

The Human Side of Workforce Development

Behind the investments are the students themselves. Young people across Huntsville who once had limited post-high school options are now graduating with certifications, work-based learning experience and confidence in their future career options. Some enter the workforce directly; others continue their education with a solid technical foundation.

For manufacturers, these students are future innovators, problem-solvers and leaders. Early investment ensures companies are shaping the future of the industry, not just filling current vacancies.

A Proactive Approach

Many communities react to workforce shortages only when a crisis emerges. Huntsville takes a different path: invest early and continuously. Embedding workforce development into the high school experience avoids the common pitfall of waiting until students are in college or the labor market to begin training.

This approach reflects a broader philosophy: investing in people is as critical as investing in infrastructure. As the city continues to attract global companies in aerospace, defense and advanced manufacturing, leaders recognize their most valuable asset is a workforce ready to innovate and adapt.

Lessons for Other Communities

Huntsville’s model offers several takeaways for manufacturers and communities nationwide:

• Start early. Engaging students in high school builds awareness and skills before postsecondary decisions.
• Involve industry directly. Embedding professionals in classrooms and aligning curriculum with employer needs provides students with authentic, real-world expertise.
• Sustain commitment. Long-term partnerships, not one-time investments, produce lasting results. Industry partners have committed years of support, ensuring programs evolve with technology.

For manufacturers, Huntsville demonstrates that workforce development is not a short-term fix but a strategic, long-term investment.

Looking Ahead

The demand for skilled manufacturing workers will continue to grow. Huntsville’s integration of education and industry provides a roadmap for other communities. By aligning schools, employers and students, Huntsville has created a model that benefits everyone—and ensures manufacturing thrives in the region.

As cities nationwide seek solutions to workforce shortages, Huntsville shows what’s possible when industry doesn’t wait for talent to appear but partners in creating it.