Palm Beach State College in Florida has received over $4.1 million to launch a training center for electric vehicle technicians, reports Palm Beach Post.
The funds come from a $1.2 trillion package of bills Congress passed, of which Congresswoman Lois Frankel requested a portion of in March. The school said it sought the funding due to low-emission mandates creating an immediate need for EV technicians.
One-year courses offering certificates in vehicle service or repair are currently offered to students at PBSC, but the 25-student maximum per course is not enough to keep up with the number of people enrolling.
The new 12,000-square-foot training facility at PBSC’s Lake Worth Beach campus will allow for the number of students in each course to double.
On the first floor of the new training center will be eight shop bays, with a second floor housing classrooms. It’s expected to begin training students in 2026.
Frankel came to PBSC’s Lake Worth Beach campus last Thursday to commemorate the news, where she was joined by current automotive students and met the one female student in the program. When Frankel asked what motivated her to join, the student said she always had an interest in cars, and hoped to one day own her own repair shop.
“One of the best parts of this job is being able to give opportunities to young people,” Frankel said at the school Thursday.
