Trenholm State and Ford Create New Pathway to Automotive Careers

First-of-its-kind partnership gives River Region students hands-on training, industry credentials and a direct path from the classroom to a career.

By Jamal Thomas

Students interested in turning a passion for cars and technology into a career now have a new opportunity at Trenholm State Community College.

Trenholm State recently celebrated the ribbon cutting for its new training program Ford Technician Ready Accelerated Certification (TRAC) Program. This is a partnership between the college, Ford Motor Company and Stivers Ford. The program is designed to prepare students to become highly skilled automotive technicians while helping meet a growing workforce need.

College leaders describe the initiative as the first program of its kind in the nation and a model that could eventually be expanded to other communities.

“The ribbon we cut today symbolizes a new pathway, one that connects the classroom to the dealership, education to employment and talented students to rewarding careers in the automotive industry,” a Trenholm State official said during the opening ceremony.

The program combines classroom instruction and hands-on technical training at Trenholm State with real-world experience in a Ford dealership.

Ford Motor Company and Stivers Ford have invested in Ford and Lincoln vehicles, tools and technology that will be used to train students in a variety of automotive technician skills. After completing the two-semester program, students will earn industry-recognized credentials and Ford-specific training designed to prepare them for the workforce.

The first class includes 12 students selected through an extensive interview process. Those students are not only beginning their own career journeys—they are participating in a training model that program leaders believe could eventually be expanded across the country.

Students will learn more than how to diagnose and repair vehicles. The program is also designed to develop professionalism, work ethic, problem-solving abilities and confidence—all skills that can help students build successful long-term careers.

The partnership also helps address some of the financial barriers associated with entering the automotive industry, including the costs of training and tools.

The program comes at a time when qualified automotive technicians are in high demand. During the ceremony, officials said the industry is facing approximately 70,000 technician vacancies.

For Montgomery and the River Region, that workforce shortage also creates an opportunity. Trenholm State can train students locally and connect them with an industry searching for skilled employees.

The partnership represents the type of workforce development that can benefit students, employers and the community. Ford brings industry expertise, Stivers Ford connects students to the dealership environment, and Trenholm State provides the educational foundation and technical training.

And if the program succeeds as its partners envision, what is starting at Trenholm State could eventually become a model for automotive training programs throughout the country—putting Montgomery at the forefront of preparing the next generation of automotive technicians.