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DEARBORN, MICHIGAN – Phoenix-area Ford dealers are partnering with the Ford Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, to provide $1 million in scholarship funding to help support students pursuing careers as automotive technicians.
Phoenix is one of four regions contributing to the scholarship program, which will be available to help alleviate barriers to entering auto technician careers across the country. Funding will be facilitated by TechForce Foundation, a national nonprofit supporting students through their education and into careers as professional technicians.
The auto industry has long faced a shortage of technicians due to fewer students entering and graduating from post-secondary programs, according to TechForce Foundation. Despite the auto industry’s annual demand for 258,000 new technicians, there are only 48,000 graduates from technician programs each year nationwide. In Arizona, the gap is likely to widen over the next decade without new graduates as there is a 14% projected growth rate in this career field in the state.
“As we move toward an electrified future, these career opportunities are exciting and require skilled technicians who are proficient in STEM-related study,” said Elena Ford, Chief Customer Experience Officer. “Working together with the Ford Fund and our Phoenix-area dealers to offer this scholarship program means we can welcome a new generation of diverse students to the industry, and hopefully into our Ford family, to help us better serve our customers.”
The Ford Auto Tech Scholarship is open to current and future students who are enrolled in post-secondary auto or auto and diesel technician training programs in the Greater Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Phoenix areas. This need-based scholarship is applied to a student’s school tuition account and may be used for all costs of attendance, including tuition, tools, living expenses, and transportation.
“By providing financial assistance for technical education, we hope to empower young people to pursue their passions and become the skilled technicians of tomorrow. We believe that investing in education is one of the most important things we can do to help our community thrive, and we’re excited to see the positive impact that these scholarships will have on the lives of local students,” said Brandon Nix, Ford’s Phoenix Regional Sales Manager.
For more information and to apply for the Ford Auto Tech Scholarship opportunity students can visit www.TechForce.org/FordFund.
Applications are due by June 30, 2023, and applicants will be notified of the results on a rolling basis throughout the spring and summer.
About Ford Fund
As the global philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund focuses on providing access to essential services, education for the future of work, and entrepreneurship opportunities for under-resourced and underrepresented communities. Ford Fund’s partnerships and programming are designed to be responsive to unique community needs, ensuring people have equitable opportunities to move forward. Harnessing Ford’s scale, resources, and mobility expertise, Ford Fund drives meaningful impact through grant making, Ford Community Centers, and employee volunteerism. For more information, visit fordfund.org or join us at @FordFund on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation is a national nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion all students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians. TechForce powers the technician workforce by awarding more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually to financially-disadvantaged students; changing perceptions towards this evolving, ‘new collar’ STEM career; and providing local career exploration and workforce development programming. TechForce’s online, social network of students, working technicians, instructors, employers, industry professionals, and enthusiasts committed to championing the technician workforce is the conduit through which the charity delivers its free resources, programs, and career hub for the benefit of aspiring technicians. For more information, visit techforce.org. Follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin.
