New Community Corporation & Ford: Partners in Auto Training Center
25 October 1999
New Community Corporation & Ford: Partners in Auto Training Center For At-Risk Young Adults
* FORD INVESTS $1 MILLION IN NEW JERSEY TRAINING FACILITY
* WHO BENEFITS? -- BOTH STUDENTS AND FORD DEALERS
* SCHOOL GETS NEW TOOLS; DEALERS GET TRAINED TECHNICIANS
* AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANS IN BIG DEMAND; 60,000 SHORTFALL
NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 22 -- An educational center to train
technically-inclined disadvantaged young adults in automotive repair
techniques of the 21st Century is opening at the New Community Corporation --
with curriculum, tools, and funding provided by Ford Motor Company .
"This is a winning formula for everyone involved, including students, the
city of Newark, our dealers and Ford," said Mike Jordan, vice president, Ford
Customer Service Division. "Not only does New Community Corporation get
state-of-the-art Ford diagnostic equipment and tools that students can use for
training, our New York area Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers get a stream of
well-trained prospective employees to meet demand for entry-level service
technicians."
A recent study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that since
1989, more than 15,000 trained technicians have been retiring annually. This
has contributed to a current shortage of 60,000 trained automotive
technicians.
This autumn, the technical training facility, modeled after a "Quick Lane"
service center at Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealerships, is opening at New
Community Corporation, located at 210 West Bigelow St. in Newark.
Disadvantaged young adults considered "at risk," between 18 and 24 years
of age, who enroll in the automotive training courses, will be taught using a
vehicle maintenance and light repair curriculum developed by Ford and
delivered by Ford-trained automotive instructors.
"This unique partnership demonstrates how responsible corporations and
grass-roots community organizations can join together and build a workforce
and the economy -- locally and internationally," said Monsignor William
Linder, NCC founder. "With this partnership, we are fostering the creation of
jobs that will develop and utilize the talents of our young people and make
them permanent members of the workforce. Together NCC and Ford, along with
local business people, are building a solid future for our students, this city
and for an industry."
During the 12-month program, students will be trained in a simulated
quick-repair classroom environment, being taught such things as the repair of
brake, electrical, suspension, and climate control systems, as well as basic
maintenance like oil changes.
Graduates receive Ford credentials in maintenance and light repair.
After training, graduates will have the opportunity to go to work at a
dealership as a maintenance and light repair technician. Graduates can
continue their education while on the job to become fully-certified Ford
service techs, able to do high-level diagnosis and repair.
"Our dealership benefited by hiring four graduates from this automotive
training program," said Richard Liebler, president, Hillside Auto Mall in
Hillside, N.J. "With this new support from Ford, Hillside and other dealers
look forward to hiring even more and better-trained technicians in the
future." Liebler was a catalyst in the development of the New Community
Corporation Youth Automotive Training Program. His Hillside Auto Mall donated
$100,000 in 1996 to help fund its start-up.
Ford Motor Company provided $800,000 for tools, diagnostic equipment,
facility improvement, curriculum development and training for the teachers.
In addition, Ford is donating a total of ten vehicles, valued at more than
$200,000, so students can practice diagnosis and repair. Teenagers in New
Community Corporation's afternoon high school vocational tech program will
also be able to utilize the materials provided by Ford.
Along with repairs, teachers are trained to instruct students on the
"Quick Lane" process and methodology. "Quick Lane" is a new service concept
being implemented at Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealerships across America. A
"Quick Lane" offers fast, no appointment service and maintenance, while the
customer waits. The training facility at NCC is designed to look like a
"Quick Lane," right down to the logos on the wall and the write-up desk.
Ford is also providing one fully-paid scholarship in automotive science to
the top graduate in the New Community Corporation program to Middlesex
Community College in Edison, or at Gloucester Community College in Sewell.
These colleges are part of the Ford ASSET program, which stands for Automotive
Student Service Educational Training.
ASSET is a two-year curriculum during which students alternate between
classroom studies and work at their sponsoring dealerships. Courses range
from mathematics and physics to computer studies and critical thinking, in
addition to automotive subjects specific to Ford products. Students who
complete the program can receive an associate's degree in automotive
technology.
New Community Corporation, the largest and most comprehensive community
development corporation in the nation, was founded in 1968 by a group of
dedicated residents of Newark's Central Ward. NCC was established to help the
residents of the inner city improve the quality of their lives to reflect
individual God-given dignity and personal achievement. New Community seeks to
fulfill its mission by providing a full network of programs that include
affordable housing, safe neighborhoods, creative education initiatives, job
training and employment services, quality health and day care, social
services, community arts, recreation, and neighborhood economic opportunities.
Presently, the New Community network employs more than 1,750 people and
touches the lives of 35,000 people daily.