Automotive program at Cincinnati State getting an upgrade thanks to $1.2 million gift

Cincinnati State has received $1.2 million from Kenwood Dealer Group to revamp and enhance its Automotive program. In addition to the gift, the Kenwood Dealer Group will be helping to recruit students to the program, and the program will be renamed the Kenwood Dealer Group School of Automotive Technology at Cincinnati State.

According to an article on Cincinnati State’s website, Dave Fay, who is the director of fixed operations for Kenwood Dealer Group, discussed why the group intends to partner with Cincinnati State in this way, saying, “The students currently coming out of Cincinnati State are top notch compared to similar programs, and with the resources that this agreement provides, we can increase job readiness for graduates who will be even more productive when they join the workforce.” He added, “We intend to attract more students by raising the awareness of just how lucrative a career in the automotive field can be.”

Robert Reichert, who is the CEO of Kenwood Dealer Group, echoed Fay’s sentiments, saying, “I think Cincinnati State is the most under appreciated educational institution in the city. I’m proud and excited that we can be part of a program that can prepare these techs for a rewarding career, no matter where they’re employed.”

There is currently a shortage of auto technicians who are trained to work on all kinds of vehicles, including gas, electric, and hybrid models. The program at Cincinnati State currently enrolls 75 students each year, but that is not enough to keep up with the demand for trained auto technicians. The monetary gift and the recruitment support from Kenwood Dealer Group will help bridge the gap by providing the program with updated equipment and vehicles students can be trained on.

Kenwood will also help with the recruitment process, which will be a boon for students who can seek employment anywhere after graduation, including at Kenwood dealerships, of which there are 14.

The chair of Cincinnati State’s Automotive program, Chuck Butler, said, “I’ve been here 16 years and we’ve always had more jobs available than graduates to fill them. We offer the most in-depth training in the region. Now, with so many hybrids and EVs, students need to get an even stronger electrical base to go along with their mechanical skills. That’s where we want to take the program. Kenwood Dealer Group is helping us up our game. I think Cincinnati State has been that secret on the hill for the last half century, and maybe today people are gonna find out about it.”

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reports that there are hundreds of openings for auto technicians each year.

For more information about Cincinnati State, visit the school’s website.