GEORGETOWN, Ky. (WKYT), – Toyota Kentucky continues to pour into the community’s youth by preparing them for future careers, particularly in manufacturing.

On Tuesday, they announced they’re giving nearly $2 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that are focused on STEM education and workforce readiness.

“We’re very proud and appreciative of our partnerships with our local nonprofits,” said Kim Ogle with Toyota Kentucky.

Company’s long-term investment in Kentucky

In 1986 Toyota broke ground on its plant in Georgetown, Kentucky. It’s one of the state’s largest employers with 10,000 employees on site every day.

“Over the nearly 40 years, about $165 million has gone to further support and strengthen the state,” said Ogle.

Investing in the community they operate in is a pillar of the company, Ogle said.

One of the ways they do this is through their community grants program.

“Our future workforce are sitting in today’s classrooms,” said Ogle.

Partnership with Junior Achievement

A long-standing partner of Toyota Kentucky is Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass.

“We do K-12 education. So, as early as first and second grade young people are learning about how money moves through the community, the difference between needs and wants,” said Laurel Martin, president of Junior Achievement. “They’re also learning about what’s expected in the workplace,”

Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass is one of Toyota’s 40 grant recipients this year.

$1.9 million in grants were also given to organizations like Jubilee Jobs, YMCA of Central Kentucky and Jobs for Kentucky’s Graduates.

“Some of the jobs that we know are coming down the pipe we may not even know what they look like yet,” said Ogle. “Through our nonprofit partners like Junior Achievement we’re really able to get on the forefront.”

Preparing students for real-world careers

Martin said the grant from Toyota helps them offer programs like JA BizTown that allows students to connect the dots between what they learn in school and the real world.

“In that space, they come in and they are CEOs, CFOs, CMOs or an employee in 16 different companies that make up our city. These are all the future workforce that companies like Toyota will need down the road,” said Martin.

Junior Achievement serves about 20,000 students per year.

“It’s extremely important for us to continue to invest in developing the future workforce,” said Ogle.

To apply for next year’s grants click here.