THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 1, 1995 TAG: 9506010441
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TARA TROWER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
A shortage of qualified auto mechanics has local car dealerships scrambling to recruit young people into auto repairs.
The Hampton Roads Automobile Dealers Association is offering $1,200 scholarships to anyone interested in being an automotive technician, beginning in fall.
For each year of financial assistance, the program - named Youth Automotive Training - requires recipients to work one year at a dealership that's a member of the Hampton Roads Automobile Dealers Association.
Bill Bowditch, owner of Bowditch Ford in Newport News, used to tinker with his automobile as a youngster. But young people, he said, don't have the same exposure to cars as he did, and fewer are interested in servicing automobiles for a living.
``Technology has increased and so has the use of computers in cars,'' Bowditch said. ``More training is required than 10 years ago - better reading skills for technical manuals and a better grasp of how computers work.''
According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, the country's car retailers are experiencing a shortage of about 18,000 repair technicians.
Although there are no concrete numbers for Hampton Roads, HRADA members say the crunch is being felt locally as well. Scott Rigell, owner of Freedom Ford in Norfolk, attributes part of the lack of interest to cuts in public-school funding.
About eight scholarship will be granted this year, and the association has plans to increase the number to as many as 60 within five years.
``The public-school programs that used to develop interest in this type of career are gone. The funding just isn't there,'' Rigell said. ``But in fact, auto technicians make pretty good money. It's a steady career.''
Service technicians can earn $30,000 to $45,000 per year, he said. Some of the best technicians earn as much as $60,000.
Information about the scholarships will be distributed through high schools, vocational schools, Navy outplacement units, shipyard retraining programs and social services counseling programs.
Training will be held at Thomas Nelson and Tidewater community colleges. MEMO: FOR INFORMATION
People interested in the scholarships should call the Hampton Roads
Automobile Dealers Association at 425-6550.
ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
PAUL AIKEN/Staff
Pat Highsmith, a 32-year-car-repair veteran, works on a van at
Freedon Ford in Norfolk. The Hampton Roads Automobile Dealers
Association is offering scholarships to anyone interested in being
an automobile technician.
by CNB