It’s been 60 years since Toyota introduce the Corolla, a vehicle the company assembles right here in Mississippi, and to celebrate, Toyota has announced six $60,000 grants for local schools and nonprofits.
The grantees in Northeast Mississippi, where Toyota operates a plant in Blue Springs, are the Tupelo Public School District, Union County School District, Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South, Regional Rehab Center, Tupelo Junior Auxiliary, and Pontotoc City and County Schools.
The grants will help fund initiatives ranging from STEM labs and financial literacy programs to dyslexia therapy and student care services.
“Toyota’s mission of giving is driven by our belief in people and their potential,” said Tiffanie Hedin, corporate communications manager for Toyota Mississippi. “Every investment we make in our communities is an investment in future leaders, stronger families, and opportunities that can change lives for generations to come.”
READ MORE: Toyota unveils new children’s learning center at Blue Springs plant
Specific initiatives being funded by the Toyota grants include:
- Tupelo Public School District: Middle College Program Expansion
- Union County School District: Dream Lab Enhancement and Driver’s Education Simulators
- Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South: Financial Literacy Teacher Certifications
- Regional Rehab Center: Dyslexia Therapy School-Embedded Therapist Expansion
- Tupelo Junior Auxiliary: Clothes Closet and Silent Servings Program
- Pontotoc City and County Schools: Teacher Choice Classroom Grants ($30,000 per district)
Toyota’s Blue Springs plant opened in 2011 and currently assembles the gas-powered Corolla. The plant plans to begin building hybrid-electric Corolla sedans in 2028 and produces more than 180,000 vehicles per year.
