Skip to main content
MTM Employees Who Are Part of Mazda Toyota History in North Alabama

LIGHTing the Way: How MTM Is Building Alabama’s Future Workforce

MTM LIGHT Program

Manufacturing is constantly evolving, but one thing remains the same: people are at the heart of everything we do. As Alabama’s manufacturing industry continues to grow, developing the next generation of skilled workers has become increasingly important.

That belief led MTM to launch the LIGHT (Leading Industry Growth by Helping Teachers) Program in 2025. By connecting educators with real-world manufacturing experiences, LIGHT helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, giving students greater insight into the skills and careers shaping Alabama’s future.

What Is LIGHT?

The mission of LIGHT is simple: empower educators with the tools, resources, and industry partnerships they need to help students become “Ready for Industry.”

Designed to strengthen career and technical education (CTE), LIGHT brings real-world industry experience into the classroom to help prepare students for successful careers in manufacturing and other skilled trades. According to the U.S. Department of Education, for every five skilled workers who retire, only about two are entering the pipeline to replace them. At that rate, the skilled labor pool continues to shrink, creating challenges for manufacturers and other industries that depend on a highly trained workforce.

One of the biggest needs in many CTE programs is access to instructors with current industry experience. Through the LIGHT Program, MTM employs a full-time instructional aide who rotates through local school systems to provide manufacturing knowledge and hands-on support to career tech instructors and students. The program focuses on workplace skills that are critical to long-term success, including leadership development, safety, 5S workplace organization, career readiness, soft skills, and technical support.

MTM’s commitment to LIGHT represents approximately $400,000 in support over a three-year period. After the initial three years, the program will rotate to additional school districts within MTM’s educational outreach area, extending the benefits of the partnership to even more educators and students.

From Local Innovation to Statewide Impact

Earlier this year, the Alabama Legislature passed the TRAIN (Talent Readiness and Industry Needs) Act, modeled after MTM’s LIGHT Program. The legislation creates a tax-credit program that encourages employers to lend qualified team members to support career and technical education programs in schools and community colleges.

Through LIGHT, we have seen firsthand what happens when education and industry work together. Students gain real-world knowledge, educators receive additional support, and team members have the opportunity to share their experience with the next generation.

Innovation Beyond the Production Line

At MTM, continuous improvement does not stop at the production line. It is part of how we solve problems, support people, and invest in the communities where we live and work.

LIGHT is one example of that commitment. By connecting team members with classrooms, the program helps students better understand the opportunities available in manufacturing while supporting the educators preparing them for the future.

As Alabama’s manufacturing industry continues to grow, programs like LIGHT and the TRAIN Act will help build a stronger workforce across the state.