Southeast Toyota Distributors celebrates 25 Years in Commerce

COMMERCE - Twenty-five years ago Joe Frank Harris, then governor of Georgia, ceremoniously dug into what was at the time just a vast field of dusty, orange clay. Today, that Commerce location is home to Southeast Toyota Distributors, which has since processed and distributed nearly 2 million vehicles for Toyota and Scion dealerships throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina.<br /> <br /> In a private event on October 2, Southeast Toyota will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its facility with a presentation commemorating "25 Years of Growing Good" and a special donation for a new pavilion at Commerce's Veterans Park. In attendance will be Southeast Toyota associates, executives, its philanthropic partners, and local and state officials.<br /> <br /> The company that established roots in Commerce in 1989 with only 17 associates processing 17,000 Toyotas annually now employs over 200, who work on more than 130,000 vehicles a year. Like its Jacksonville operations, Southeast Toyota's Commerce Inland Processing center sorts and delivers vehicles installed with accessories, such as leather seats, spoilers, roof racks, alloy wheels, entertainment systems, security systems and more. <br /> <br /> "We owe the amazing growth of our company to our hard-working and dedicated associates, and to the support of this community which has been a great partner in our success," said Ed Sheehy, President of Southeast Toyota. "We had no doubt that when we chose Commerce as our home in 1989, we chose the right place."<br /> <br /> The center primarily processes vehicles for distribution to Toyota dealers in northern Alabama, the Carolinas and northern Georgia. The 300-acre complex now includes six buildings, 50 acres of pavement and six rail spurs, which offer accessibility to Toyotas manufactured in Georgetown, Ky.; Princeton, Ind.; San Antonio, Texas; and Tupelo, Miss.; as well as plants in Cambridge, Ontario and Baja California, Mexico.<br /> <br /> "When we were considering locations to expand our distribution efforts, we needed to find a place with the greatest growth potential while remaining central to Toyota's manufacturing plants and our southeast operations," Sheehy said. "Commerce not only met those business needs, but the area had a hometown feel that aligned with our company's focus on family and the community."<br /> <br /> JM Family's corporate philanthropic programs include a volunteer initiative called What A Difference A Day Makes! that allows associates to participate in local projects across the company. Since 2000, the company has donated almost $1 million to 46 nonprofit organizations in the Commerce area. As of 2001, more than 100 Commerce associates have donated 2,272 hours at 70 different company-sponsored volunteer events.

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