Ford has opened $5,000 scholarships for student mechanics across the country in a $2 million venture to create a pipeline for qualified workers to the automotive industry.

Reacting to a projected shortage of 400,000 automotive technicians by 2027, the Ford Motor Company Fund (Ford Fund) and Ford dealers will offer 400 students need-based awards to pursue post-secondary training.

The TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit, will administer the Ford Auto Tech scholarships, which will be available to students looking to attend 292 eligible schools located in 10 selected regions, including Dallas.

The Ford Fund is a philanthropic organization of the Ford Motor Company. It ran a similar scholarship program in 2023, allocating $1 million to students in Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago, and Atlanta.

“When I was younger, my dad and I would work on his old truck together all the time. As a kid, I didn’t understand what I was doing, but I liked helping and learning the things he was teaching me,” said Alston Abts, who earned one of these scholarships last year, according to a news release. “Today, being an automotive technician is my dream career because I get to do something I love doing and learning about.”

Scholarship funds can go towards any education-related expenses, such as tuition fees, the purchase of tools, housing, and transportation.

Those wishing to apply for the scholarship can do so here. Applicants can be of any age but must demonstrate financial need and be pursuing a certificate or degree in automotive technology at an eligible institution.

The partnering institutions in the Dallas area include Cedar Valley College, Collin College, Dallas College (Brookhaven and Eastfield), Lincoln Tech, Tarrant County College, Trinity Valley Community College, Universal Technical Institute, and Texas Weatherford College.

As previously covered in The Dallas Express, several of these institutions — such as Collin College and Tarrant County College — have rolled out considerable initiatives to improve student pathways into the labor market through partnerships and more. They have contributed to high school students’ College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) by offering dual degree programs in collaboration with local Independent School Districts.

While some school systems have excelled in CCMR, such as Plano ISD, which earned a score of 71% during the 2021-2022 school year, others have not. For instance, Dallas ISD scored 59% in the CCMR metric, below the statewide average of 65%.