MGCCC, J. Allen Automotive team up for new diesel technician apprenticeship program

LONG BEACH, Miss. (WXXV) -Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and J. Allen Automotive Group signed an agreement on Wednesday, establishing a new diesel technician apprenticeship program.

The ceremony was held at the West Harrison County Center in Long Beach, where MGCCC representatives and Jonathan Allen came out to speak on the new partnership, share the program’s long-term benefits, and recognize students who have successfully completed the automotive technician apprenticeship program.

“This experience for students is a game changer. First, to begin with, they’re immediately getting a salary and benefits, which allows them to really not be worried about all of the barriers that would be in the way for them to be successful, not just as a student, but in the workplace. So, that’s the first thing. But, beyond that, they’re getting poured into every day from Gulf Coast Community College and our partner J. Allen to ensure they are being trained correctly and specifically in the way that this partner wants. This is ideal for students. It is the best of all worlds,” said Jonathan Woodward, Vice President of MGCCC Community Campus.

“We can hire all the technicians that come out of this program, so we can give boots on the ground jobs to all the people that graduate from this program, because we have a need for it inside the business, right now,” said Jonathan Allen, President and CEO of J. Allen Automotive.

The new program will help apprentices build successful careers as diesel technicians at a much faster pace.