In 2013 and 2014, the 3M Automotive AftermarketDivision donated $500,000 to programs that help returning military veterans get the tools and assistance they need to start a career in collision repair or continue their training. There have been 115 recipients of the 3M Hire Our Heroes grants since 2013.
“When you walk into a shop, and you have all the tools you need to complete the task, it makes it possible to be hired on the spot,” said David Sellers, U.S. Army (ret.) and a recipient of a 3M Hire Our Heroes grant. “I walked into a shop a few months ago to apply for a job and was asked by the shop manager if I had my own tools. When I responded ‘Yes’ with confidence, I was hired after just five minutes of talking with him.”
“We are excited to move the program ahead in 2015, again partnering with the Collision Repair Education Foundation and expanding the program to include support of the Fayetteville Technical Community College and its new collision repair and refinishing technology training program,” said Dale Ross,U.S. Marketing Operations Manager for 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division.
The new collision repair and refinishing technology training program at Fayetteville Technical Community College is designed to ensure veterans, and all students, are shop ready and certified to work in the industry upon graduation.For more information on the Fayetteville program, visit www.faytechcc.edu/public_service/i-car.aspx
Grants are available for qualifying returning veterans and family members. Grants may be used for tuition, school fees, tools, textbooks and equipment at qualifying technical schools. For additional information and to apply, visit www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.
The ultimate goal of the 3M Hire Our Heroes campaign is to support the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in raising awareness for hiring America’s heroes and help drive employment in the collision repair industry for these deserving veterans and their families. In addition, 3M is a national board member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes program.
For more information on the 3M Hire Our Heroes campaign, contact Ted Guck, 3M Automotive Aftermarket, at [email protected] or visit www.3mcollision.com/hire.
About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $31 billion in sales, 3M employs 89,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
3M is a trademark of 3M Company.
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