This story appears in the
February 2000 issue of
Entrepreneur.
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A AMCO Transmissions Inc. is in league with the U.S. Labor
Department to increase job skills for underprivileged youth while
creating a pool of skilled candidates for the auto industry as a
whole. The idea stemmed from the realization that the computer
industry was luring many workers away from careers in auto repair.
Now, after completing a basic auto-repair class, qualifying
students in the Labor Departments Job Corps program can take an
advanced class offered by AAMCO. Still in the trial phase, AAMCO is
confident the 30-week program will create a crop of well-trained
technicians.
The first class of 14 students began training last September in
Edison, New Jersey. Once they graduate with marketable skills and
about $1,200 in tools, the students should have many job
opportunities. "We already have a line of [franchisees] ready
to pick these people up," says AAMCO COO Mark Wurth.
Franchisees will land quality employees as well as receive tax
credits: $3,500 for a year of employment and $5,000 for employing a
student for two years. According to Wurth, "It's a
win-win-win situation--for [AAMCO], the government and especially
for the students involved."
Contact Source
AAMCO Transmissions Inc., (610) 668-2900, ext.400,
aavila@aamco.com.