Mazda Toyota Manufacturing has awarded its second round of grant funding totaling $150,000 to 12 nonprofits. Grantees also took a tour of the Huntsville manufacturing facility.

“MTM is grateful to the organizations that support our community, and our MTM Grant Fund is one way that we can show that commitment to North Alabama,” said Mark Brazeal, vice president of administration at MTM.

The 2023 MTM Grant Fund received more than 80 applications. Of those, the following 12 nonprofits received funding this round: Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Family Services Center, NCAC, Heals Inc., KTECH/Kids to Love, ELM Foundation, Girls Inc., Kid One Transport, The Care Center, Huntsville Botanical Gardens, Still Serving Veterans and Cap & Gown Project.

The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville hosts MTM’s fund on its platform and is integral in facilitating MTM’s corporate grantmaking.

MTM will launch a third round of funding later this year. Interested applicants can visit the Community Foundation’s website or follow MTM on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for the announcement of the third round.

Read the article by Business Alabama

2023-2024 Japanese Language Grants by The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles (JFLA)

Grant for Nationwide/Statewide/Region-wide Events for Learners

Japanese Language Learners Event Grant

(Examples: Speech Contest, Quiz Contest, Japan-themed Festival for Learners, etc.)

Deadlines: September 1, 2023

More info

__________________________________

Grant for Nationwide/Statewide/Region-wide Projects for Teachers

Japanese-Language Education Project Grant

(Examples: Conferences/Seminars/Workshops for Teachers, Teaching Material Development, Research Projects, etc.)

Deadline: 2 months before the project start date

More info

__________________________________

Grants for Individual Japanese Language Programs

Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant

Deadlines: September 15, 2023

More info

__________________________________

Advocacy Support Letter

If your Japanese language program is in danger of being cut due to COVID-19, we will send a support letter to stakeholders (Superintendent, Principal, Dean, etc.).

Please contact JFLA for details.

The $16 million, 66,000-square-foot Post-Production Option facility will house a program that outfits the automaker’s light-truck lineup with features designed to add extra performance and function, including bronze alloy wheels, fender flares, roof rails, cargo nets and trailer hitches.

The PPO program began in late 2020 with the installation of accessory packages for the redesigned 2021 Ridgeline pickup.

On Tuesday, community leaders joined company officials to cut the ribbon on the new PPO facility, which will allow Honda to expand the program to include accessory packages for the redesigned 2023 Pilot SUV and meet increased demand for customization of light truck models.

Honda also plans to eventually offer installation of single-item accessories to dealers.

“Our customer-focused Honda accessories program represents an incredible effort by our highly engaged team of associates who believed in this new business area and had the drive to make it succeed,” said Susan McCormick, department head of accessory product planning at American Honda Motor Co.

“The new PPO facility at our Alabama Auto Plant will enable us to better serve our Honda customers and provide them with the high-quality options they desire.”

Read the whole article by Made in Alabama from here.

A $49 million, 168-acre solar project for Toyota in Huntsville now includes a power purchase agreement.

Huntsville Utilities, Toyota Alabama and Toyota Tsusho America announced the agreement at an event today in Huntsville.

The plan includes a 30-megawatt solar-generated system in the North Huntsville Industrial Park, near the Toyota engine plant. The system is expected to generate 62,000 megawatt hours annually, enough to power more than 5,600 homes.

“Toyota is taking a transparent, science-based approach to address climate change,” said Jason Puckett, president of Toyota Alabama. “By relying on the sun to power our operations, we will reduce our carbon footprint and create a model of environmental stewardship in North Alabama.”

Tsusho led the project’s development and will manage construction, which is scheduled to begin this spring. Tsusho will be the owner of the solar facility, which is scheduled to begin generating solar energy in the summer of 2024.

By Business Alabama

Mark your calendar for May 5, 2023, from 6:30 to 9 pm CDT. The Daikin Festival is back and moving to Point Mallard Park!

Each year in May, beginning in 1994, Daikin America, Inc. employees produced a Japanese Festival in the style of Bon Odori for their North Alabama neighbors. Every year, that is, until the pandemic made it impossible in 2020.

Now, at long last, the festival returns, offering even more fun for the entire family.

The Daikin Festival delights attendees with live music, Japanese Folk Dancing, Shodo (Japanese calligraphy), Yakisoba (grilled buckwheat noodles with beef and special sauce), BBQ, hamburgers, refreshing drinks, and special prizes.

This year, the festival will conclude with a dramatic fireworks display by PYRO Shows.

Best of all, the entire event is free of charge, including food, drink, and entertainment, and is open to the public.

We look forward to the return of one of the largest Japanese cultural events in the Southeast US.

Read more: https://daikinalabama.com/news/daikin-festival-is-back-for-2023

A free financial seminar held by Satoko Tsutsumi from Financial Planning and Education service on 3/11 (at Birmingham) and 3/12 (at Huntsville).

Ms. Satoko is an expert in financial planning in the USA and in Japan. We will learn about the general information about financial planning including benefits of saving and investing early for your retirement, social security benefits, Medicare, etc.

The seminar will be conducted in Japanese.

Milton Davis, JASA Board member, and past JASA Board chairperson, was recently inducted into the State of Alabama’s Engineering Hall of Fame (AEHOF). The Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame was founded in 1987 by proclamation of the Governor. AEHOF honors, preserves, and perpetuates the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of individuals, projects, and corporations/institutions that have brought and continue to bring significant recognition to the State.

Milton is a champion in the field of engineering and in Alabama. He is one of the top performing business development managers in his industry with more than 40 years of progressively challenging experiences. He is vice president of economic development for Clayco, a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, procurement, and construction firm. Throughout his career, Davis has received several honors and awards including UA Centennial Fellow Chemical and Biological Engineering in 2010, 2012 UA Distinguished Engineering Fellow, and was selected as Engineer of the Year in 1996 by the National Society of Black Engineers. His service to engineering education and the State includes several boards and leadership positions such as past chairman of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees, chair of the Capstone Engineering Society, and co-chair of the Economic Development Committee of Manufacture Alabama, active member of the Economic Development Association of Alabama, and JASA. As a member of the Alabama Community College System, Davis is at the forefront of examining and approving measures that ensure the success of residents, businesses, and industry at Alabama’s 24 community and technical colleges. He has promoted Alabama and helped in the recruitment of numerous manufacturing projects to the State.

Learn more about the Engineering Hall of Fame.

"We occupy a unique space in the United States ecosystem. We have a very long history with international companies and a unique relationship with the Japanese and the European space agencies. We work in the aerospace side, the automotive side, and the genomic research side."

Read More

"Alabama's strategic strength in space and aerospace presents itself as a potential opportunity for Japanese companies looking to expand their footprint in the U.S. We plan to spend some effort in that regard as well. We believe that it's time for us to work closely with our Japanese partners to capture some of their knowledge base."

Read More

JASA 2022 Annual Celebration Dinner and Business Forum was featured on Made in Alabama!

"Alabama-Japan relationship celebrated as robust bonds strengthen"

See the whole article here!

About JASA Annual Dinner...

Each year, the Japan-America Society of Alabama hosts a special reception and fundraiser to allow our members and guests from all over Alabama to gather, network, and dine with a special program to celebrate the JASA community. We recognize New and Expanding Japanese Companies across the state, hear from JASA leadership about our community's mission and goals, and honor the recipient of the Samuel Ullman Award.