Free tuition for automotive degree

The State of New York is trying to come to the rescue of the automotive industry which is lacking qualified workers. 

New York started the Pathways in Technology Program. It’s a public-private partnership that prepares thousands of New York students for future high-skills jobs in technology, manufacturing, healthcare and finance. 

Recently the program awarded a $3 million grant to Erie 1 BOCES. The money will be used to enroll 200 high school freshmen in the fall into the automotive program at Erie 1 BOCES. Also they will have the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree in automotive from Erie Community College for free, which in high school. 

Leaders hope this will help push kids towards the trade field. In the next 5 years, there will be an estimated 70,000 jobs available in the auto industry in New York. 

“So we really need to educate our students here. Get them their college education and keep them in Western New York,” Anedda Trautman, Erie BOCES Associate Director said. 

Lackawanna City School District will be the lead educational agency for this grant that will also extend to West Seneca, Frontier and Hamburg Schools.