Alabama High School and Toyota Partner on Industrial Maintenance Training

The Huntsville Center for Technology opened a $40 million facility where 700 students receive part-day training in industry-standard skills. The school will graduate its first class this spring. The center runs an "Inditech" program developed with Toyota Alabama after the company identified a need for industrial maintenance workers.

Toyota contributed $1 million through its charitable endowment to support the curriculum.

The National Association of Manufacturers projects the United States will need 1.9 million additional manufacturing workers by 2033. Data center construction has increased demand for electricians and other trades. Average annual pay for those positions reached approximately $81,800 according to Skillit platform data.

Technology and Engineering maintains partnerships with local employers including Deloitte, Airbus, and Raytheon. Raytheon piloted an internship allowing seniors to spend four days per week on site. The school’s executive director said the goal is to prepare students for roles that do not yet exist.

Raytheon’s Huntsville site executive noted the internships build systems thinking and collaboration skills. Toyota Alabama’s corporate communications lead said students respond to examples of recent graduates who purchased homes and vehicles with minimal debt.

Instructors at the center stated that two years of post-secondary training plus experience can lead to wages above $40 per hour.