Green Toyota in Springfield, Ill., is planning an $11 million project intended to significantly modernize and expand the showroom, service area, and customer amenities. Highlights include a climate‐controlled shop in the automotive services department, new locker rooms modeled after NCAA facilities, and an interactive conference training room. Additionally, there will be upgraded lounges, waiting rooms, offices and workstations for potential customers.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday, February 3, 2025, with local dignitaries including the mayor of Springfield, members of Congress, and representatives from Toyota and local trades, including former Business Manager of LIUNA Local 477, Brad Schiave.
According to Mylas Copeland, managing partner of Green Toyota, “this is going to take us to state-of-the-art technology – completely new buildings, new furnishings, an expansion, and a deeper commitment to our community.” Copeland had seen the Laborers’ Disaster Relief Team (LDRT) in action, and immediately saw the benefit of bringing the local LIUNA brothers and sisters to the table. “We have done other projects, and always haven’t been able to work with organized labor. I wanted to change that,” he said.
“These people are in our community, and we talk a lot about that, so I wanted to give the men and women in our community a chance to work on this significant project.”
Copeland’s experience seeing LIUNA members in action as part of LDRT prompted him to reach out to Schiave. “He called me and said – listen, you guys are there when no one else is around, and what would it be like if I did a construction project and you weren’t involved?” shared Schiave. “He wanted to show us the same respect that our members show the community. That impacts our community, but it also impacts our market share. We picked up an $11 million job solely from that volunteer work and the community involvement,” he added.
“That’s a success for our community, our men and women, and LIUNA as a whole,” Schiave concluded. And that’s what Laborers’ Rising is all about.
In addition to the involvement of local labor, including LIUNA 477, the expansion will provide room for expanded inventory and allow the dealership to hire more staff and bring jobs to the area. “We’re doing this in our community, with members from our community, for our community,” said Copeland.