Six hundred fifty jobs are coming to Huntsville as Mazda Toyota‘s second on-site supplier joins the community.
Construction starts this month on the $22 million facility by the company Y-tech Keylex Toyotetsu Alabama, or YKTA. They’re joint venture of three automotive companies and will help produce the 300,000 vehicles coming out of the Mazda Toyota plant every year.
“You know it really is hard to believe that 25 years ago we didn’t make a single car or truck or SUV and today we’re projected to be the number two auto producing state in the nation,” said Governor Kay Ivey at the groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday.
YKTA will produce structural body stampings and assemblies. They’re the third supplier announced to support Mazda Toyota.
The facility will create 650 jobs on top of the 4,000 created by the Mazda-Toyota plant, 400 from their Athens supplier, and 380 from their first on-site supplier.
“We were once small,” said Limestone County District 3 Commissioner Jason Black. “We are growing. We’re getting really, really big.”
More jobs mean more changes.
“You’ll have people within a 100-mile radius just because of these companies coming here,” Black told WZDX News. “It’s really big. I mean you hear a lot of people talk about how important it is, but it’s changing lives daily.”
“This whole project is a collaboration of communities,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle. “And through that collaboration we have all gained, we all win, and great things will happen in this community.”
More suppliers are expected to jump on board this economic engine.
“We hope they’ll come!” said Ivey. “We’re looking forward to having them.”
The facility is expected to be up and running by 2021, which is the same time the Mazda Toyota plant is set to get to work.
At the groundbreaking ceremony YKTA donated $10,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of North Alabama. They want to show their commitment to the community.
Those interested in positions can apply on the YKTA website.
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