I-CAR has been designated as a Registered Apprenticeship Hub and recipient of an Apprenticeship Building America grant by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) under its Investing in America initiative.

The recognition includes more than $7 million in funding to support and expand the use of Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAP) in high-demand fields, such as the automotive collision repair industry.

Over the four-year grant period, I-CAR will strengthen educational programs for shops and their technicians by establishing new RAPs and engaging repair centers on their own or in collaboration with I-CAR Academy Schools, an I-CAR news release states.

The funding will help I-CAR develop an ecosystem for RAPs within the collision repair industry, elevating collision repair to the level of standardization, as are other trades, I-CAR said. Participating employers, known for their commitment to professional development and worker support, such as repair centers with the Gold Class designation and those using I-CAR Academy curriculum and training, will implement the RAPs.

“The automotive collision repair industry employs thousands of skilled technicians who use advanced technology and repair techniques to restore vehicles to pre-accident condition every day,” the release states. “However, the industry faces significant challenges, primarily a shortage of qualified technicians.

“The increasing complexity of modern vehicles and declining interest in trade careers have created a substantial workforce gap, impacting repair shop efficiency and consumer safety. However, I-CAR’s designation as a National Registered Apprenticeship hub is another step toward solving this challenge.”

The funding provided by the Apprenticeship Building America grant will “create job opportunities by equipping individuals with essential skills, alleviating the labor shortage in the industry, and ultimately boosting economic health by increasing workforce efficiency and revenue,” I-CAR said.

The grant will also support I-CAR in developing advanced training programs that keep pace with evolving automotive technology.

“We are honored to receive this generous funding from the Department of Labor,” said John Van Alstyne, I-CAR president and CEO, in the release. “This investment is a pivotal step toward addressing the critical skills shortage in the collision repair industry, placing us on the same playing field as other trade industries. We are not only improving the quality and safety of auto repairs but also strengthening the overall economic health of our industry. We look forward to the positive impact this will have on technicians, repair shops, and consumers alike.”

Dara Goroff, planning and industry talent programming vice president, told Repairer Driven News I-CAR is excited to introduce its first RAP tailored specifically for entry-level automotive collision repair technicians. The new offering works in tandem with I-CAR Academy.

“This groundbreaking initiative reflects our commitment to fostering the next generation of skilled professionals but we’re not stopping there,” Goroff said. “As an organization dedicated to supporting every corner of the collision repair industry, we have ambitious plans to expand our RAP offerings, ensuring that in the coming years, other vital segments of our industry benefit from this innovative program. Our vision is to drive excellence and build stronger career pathways across the entire automotive repair ecosystem.”

Since its inception in 1979, I-CAR has been a neutral, central resource for all segments of the collision repair industry, the release states. I-CAR says it aims to engage its network of 14,000 repair centers, 91,300 learners, nearly 900 educational institutions, 22 insurance companies, 26 automotive manufacturers, four service providers, and 25 suppliers to implement RAPs and pre-apprenticeships.

The DOL is investing $244 million through two grant programs to help modernize, diversify, and expand the RAP system, according to a DOL news release. The Biden-Harris administration said the funding is the largest combined federal investment in RAPs and is part of the Investing in America agenda.

However, in July, the Associated Press reported that the House Republican budget plan would cut the apprenticeship program by 47%, despite employers saying they need more skilled workers.

On Sept. 22, Congressional leaders agreed on a short-term spending bill to fund federal agencies for about three months, averting a possible partial government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1, and pushing final decisions until after the November election, according to the AP.

Nearly $195 million of the DOL allocation to the RAP system will come through the second round of grant funding under the Apprenticeship Building America initiative, which supports public-private partnerships designed to serve a range of industries and individuals.

The program will help expand the use of RAPs across in-demand fields, such as K-12 education, clean energy, IT and cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, supply chain, hospitality, care economy, and public-sector occupations, the DOL release says.

In 2022, the department awarded $171 million in grants through the program. Nearly $730 million has now been invested to expand, modernize, and diversify the use of RAPs, the release says.

The Biden-Harris administration has also awarded $49 million to nine states through the second round of the competitive portion of the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants. Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, these investments and other efforts have resulted in more than 900,000 individuals having the opportunity to start an apprenticeship, according to the release.

States receiving funding include Alaska, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

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Featured photo provided by I-CAR