Ford Motor Company Fund, the company’s philanthropic arm, joined Ford dealers across four U.S. regions – Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Phoenix – to provide a million dollars in scholarship funding to help students pursue careers as automotive technicians.

TechForce Foundation reports that the shortage of technicians in the automobile industry persists because of a decline in the number of students enrolling and graduating from post-secondary programs.

The demand for 258,000 new technicians each year is not met by the national output of 48,000 graduates from technician programs annually.

This gap is expected to increase in the coming decade due to projected growth rates of:

• 14% in Arizona,

• 10% in Texas,

• 7% in Georgia,

• 3% in Illinois.

“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 dealers to offer this scholarship program means we will welcome a new generation of diverse students to the industry, and hopefully into our Ford family, to help us better serve our customers.”

Ford Auto Tech Scholarship

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.

“These scholarships will go a long way in engaging students, particularly those from under-resourced communities, to consider careers in automotive technology and service,” said Jennifer Maher, CEO, TechForce Foundation. “We’re excited about working with the Ford Fund and Ford Dealer partners to help create a path to careers students may not have considered before.”

Scholarships will be administered by TechForce Foundation, a national nonprofit supporting students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians. Ford is proud to partner with TechForce given their deep understanding and expertise of the essential skills required to build a diverse pipeline of auto technicians.

This program supports Ford’s greater mission to prepare, empower and grow the future workforce needed to service vehicles and customers to prepare for an electrified future including:

• A focus on a STEM-based curriculum in combination with hands-on learning

• Reaching students early and reinforcing the opportunities available for upward professional and economic advancement

• Collaboration with dealers through their involvement in participating schools, career fairs, shadowing days, mentoring, and internships.