February 23, 2004

By: Sam Hankook
Website: http://www.1st-in-cars.com

Advance Auto Parts and VCCS Announce Training Partnership

Advance Auto Parts and the Virginia Community College System today announced a partnership that will generate new jobs, provide workforce training, develop courses for automotive repair and help fund a statewide marketing program.

Advance Auto Parts, headquartered in Roanoke, is among the top one percent of Virginia employers, with more than 23,000 employees in 39 states. The company has 1,700 stores, 100 of them in Virginia.

I am pleased that Advance Auto Parts has entered into this partnership that will create new jobs and provide workforce training for Virginians, said Governor Gilmore. This initiative is proof that Virginia's business community has confidence in the quality of the education provided by our community colleges.

As part of the partnership, Advance Auto has agreed to hire full- and part-time students from community colleges. We offer flexible work schedules designed around classes, said Advance Auto President Garnett Smith at a news conference at the Advance Auto Parts Store on Littlecreek Road in Norfolk, Virginia, announcing the partnership. We believe that we can help students complete their education by offering them employment and later an outstanding career opportunity. Opportunities in cooperative education and internships, allowing students to earn credits while they learn on the job, will also be available.

Community colleges, in turn, will provide training for Advance Auto employees. Workforce training is a major issue in Virginia, Smith said, and we are confident that the program sponsored by the community college system will meet a major portion of our needs.

This is a model statewide partnership that is unique for the Virginia Community College System, said VCCS Chancellor Arnold R. Oliver. We are assisting with the recruitment and training needs of a major Virginia company, which, in turn, allows us to attract more students. Dr. Oliver said this statewide partnership is an exciting one that he hopes other Virginia companies will emulate.

Community colleges will begin developing these programs in specific locations in the months ahead, with Tidewater Community College at its campuses in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Chesapeake designated as the pilotinstitution. Later, Advance Auto and the Virginia Community College System hope to initiate other areas of cooperation.

Recognizing the important work being done in community colleges to educate and train Virginians, Advance Auto is donating $100,000 to the Virginia Community College System. This donation from Advance Auto is extremely valuable to us, said Dr. Oliver, because it will provide the means to support our statewide workforce training advertising campaign that we did not have the funds to accomplish before this very generous donation.

The Virginia Community College System is comprised of 23 community colleges on 39 campuses located throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. More than 219,000 Virginians enrolled in a community college credit course last year with more than 77,000 students taking non-credit workforce training courses.

Students do not have to be in automotive programs to qualify for the partnership program. We would encourage students interested in any technical or business-related programs to apply, Smith said. In fact, students needing a job to help finance their college education are also encouraged to consider working with us at our Advance Auto stores. For students seeking a career, Advance Auto offers opportunities in retail stores, distribution centers, and administration. Advance Auto, a rapidly growing company, is constantly seeking qualified men and women who want career opportunities, Smith said.

Advance Auto will also test some tuition assistance programs for consumers interested in basic automotive repair. Classes will be taught by community college instructors and will be open to the public.

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Sam Hankook is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-cars.com.  Great car accessories and parts plus financing, insurance and leasing tips.