February 28, 2025

Photo courtesy of Tarrant County College. View the full gallery here.

On Friday, February 21, Autobahn Fort Worth held a scholarship signing ceremony, celebrating a new partnership with Tarrant County College (TCC) to support students pursuing careers in automotive technology. It was announced that Autobahn is providing $50,000 in scholarships, awarding 10 students with $5,000 each to help cover educational expenses.  

In addition to the scholarships, those students will also gain hands-on experience through paid internships at Autobahn Fort Worth, earning $20 per hour. The goal is for these students to graduate and enter a thriving industry where entry-level technicians typically make around $50,000 annually. At Autobahn Fort Worth, experienced technicians earn approximately $100,000, with some master technicians making upwards of $200,000 per year, according to Autobahn leadership. 

This collaboration is the result of a continued effort on the Chamber’s part to identify talent needs, identify educational options, and make meaningful introductions. In 2023, the Fort Worth Chamber facilitated a tour for local businesses, including Autobahn and Caliber Collision, to explore the automotive programs at Fort Worth ISD. The tour allowed business leaders to discuss the skills they need in the workforce and build connections with local educational organizations and eventually sparked conversations leading to this scholarship program.  

Mike Coffey, President of Imperative Information Group and chair of the FWC Talent Committee shared, “This is a great example of the initiatives that come about when local businesses cooperate through the Fort Worth Chamber. The FWC’s Talent Committee will soon start an initiative to survey companies across Fort Worth to better understand what talent and workforce challenges they face.” 

The scholarship between Autobahn and TCC is an example of how collaboration between local businesses and educational institutions can create opportunities for the next generation of our workforce while addressing an industry's talent needs. 

The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce remains committed to supporting its members by facilitating meaningful connections to support Fort Worth’s business community. Look out for emails in the coming weeks from the FWC regarding a critical survey soliciting your observations on the talent landscape and how your company is responding.