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Corning, N.Y. -- SUNY Corning Community College has been awarded a $1.4 million grant through the State University of New York (SUNY) to create a future Automotive Technician program. This grant was developed with input from local automotive partners: Ferrario Auto Team, Simmons-Rockwell, and Williams Auto Group.

SUNY CCC with regional community college partners, SUNY Broome Community College and Tompkins-Cortland Community College, will develop a trio of ASE-certified micro-credentials that will prepare future automotive technicians in the Southern Tier.

The first micro-credential will focus on providing short-term training for entry-level technicians, who upon completion will be placed with regional employers. The second and third micro-credentials will be offered as a work-based model where students will go through two full days of training, in addition to three days of full-time work with their employer.  This “earn while you learn” model is critical to success because it provides students a living wage while reinforcing the classroom learning with on-the-job skill building.

In order to deepen the candidate pool to fill immediate job openings, pathways will be developed for traditional high school graduates, working adults looking to upskill or reskill, and unemployed individuals looking to re-enter the workforce.

The new program will include gas-powered technician training and look to the future with alternative fuel technician training. SUNY CCC will adapt its automotive technician training center at Daniel Zenker Drive in Big Flats, just off the I-86 industry corridor and centrally located in the Southern Tier Region, to deliver this revised training program.