The organizations also will put together the internship program to help promote career opportunities at franchised dealerships, such as positions in sales, service, finance and insurance, digital marketing or parts.
Candidates for the internships will be recruited from historically Black colleges and universities, minority-serving institutions and universities with diverse student populations.
“We have a significant shortage of automotive technicians working within franchised dealerships,” Will Green, president of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, said in a statement. “With the proliferation of electric vehicles and as more consumers buy both new and used cars, it’s an exciting time in our industry, and we need a trained work force to not only sell vehicles but to work in the service departments at dealerships diagnosing issues, educating customers and performing repairs.”
Green said the partnership with the league will give dealers “access to a pool of potential workers to help fill the void.”
The state dealers association is “ready to lean in with the Urban League to recruit, train and hire more women and a more diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve,” he added.
Said Cravins: “The apprenticeship program is absolutely going to change some lives. I think the internship program will change people’s trajectory. … This is a way to build generational change.”