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OPA News Release: [10/30/2002]
Contact Name: Elissa
Pruett
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Labor Department Provides Funds To Train Youth in
Automotive Industry Jobs
AYES Program To Train and Certify High Schoolers as
Automotive Technicians
WASHINGTON—Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and
Training Emily Stover DeRocco today was joined by Automotive Youth Educational
Systems (AYES) and Congressman Jim DeMint (R-SC) to announce plans for the
Department of Labor to award $600,000 to AYES in support of a two-year
automotive industry certification program.
The AYES program links high school automotive programs with professional
certification in an effort to meet the demands of over 20,000 automotive
dealerships nationwide.
“The automotive industry is a leader in providing careers for U.S.
workers, and the demand for skilled workers continues to grow,” said
DeRocco. “This program will lead the way in providing our youth the
training necessary to thrive in this high growth industry.”
The announcement of the Department of Labor’s support for the
program followed DeRocco’s remarks to the AYES board of directors during
their annual meeting held yesterday and today in Greer, S.C.
The AYES program is based on the National Automotive Technicians
Education Foundation standards and currently operates in 269 schools in 42
states with over 3200 automotive dealers participating. The program encourages
dealerships to partner with high quality technical high schools with automotive
programs certified by the National Institute for Automotive Services.
The funds, made available by the Employment and Training Administration,
will enable AYES to train and certify up to 5,000 students for successful
careers in the high growth automotive industry and expand the number of
participating dealers to more than 5,000.
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