Baltimore County, Md. (Jan. 6, 2026) – Community College of Baltimore County’s (CCBC) Automotive Training program is adding fundamental training on electric vehicles to its introductory course thanks to a one-year, $60,000 grant from the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) EmployED program and General Motors.
The grant will support the development of an enhanced version of AUTO 100, an introductory course that all CCBC automotive technician students, about 140 a year, must complete at the start of their studies. The expanded class emphasizes Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) and Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) safety, systems and service protocols. The grant funds will support faculty time to design and deliver new HEV/BEV content, as well as the purchase of EV-specific tools and training aids.
“Aligning community college career and technical education with industry needs in advanced manufacturing is a high priority for AACC,” said AACC President DeRionne Pollard. “We are proud to work with General Motors in building and sustaining workforce pipelines, while advancing promising practices that support both our students and our economy.”
Demand for trained technicians is so high that CCBC graduates are frequently hired before graduation and gain full-time employment as they finish their studies. In the next decade, U.S. employers will offer about 70,000 openings for automotive service technicians and mechanics each year, according to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The region surrounding Baltimore County supports more than 2,000 automotive, mechanical, and electrical repair professionals, about 20% more than comparable areas in the U.S.
The electric and hybrid vehicle markets are also growing, driven by concerns over climate change, fossil fuel dependency and air quality. The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) market is projected to exceed 10 million units by 2030, while the global electric vehicle market is expected to reach more than $1.5 trillion by 2033, up from $600 billion last year, according to Renub Research.
“As a major driver of the region’s workforce, CCBC needs to respond to demand from employers,” said CCBC President Sandra Kurtinitis. “Customers are buying more electric vehicles, so the local industry needs more skilled automotive technicians to service them. This grant positions us to do so, allowing us to develop curriculum and purchase high-technology equipment so that students can learn about EVs in the very first course they take in our program.”
CCBC’s Automotive Technology program offers options for earning an Associate of Applied Science degree or a Master Technician Certificate. The program works closely with national manufacturers, including General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Stellantis/Chrysler, Nissan and Subaru. The corporate partnerships give students access to Original Equipment Manufacturer training—in which they learn specialized skills directly from the companies that built the technology—and hands-on learning that ensures CCBC’s curricula align with employer needs and expectations.
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) is the primary advocacy organization for the nation’s community colleges. The AACC manages the EmployED Initiative, funded by General Motors, to meet the needs of the advanced manufacturing industry. EmployED has established a peer network of 18 colleges, with each group of six focusing on specific areas of expansion—Early Career and Technical Skills Exposure and Advanced Manufacturing CTE Programs, as well as the Electric Vehicle Programs cohort that CCBC has joined. All lessons learned in each cohort will be made available to the wider AACC network of member colleges to help them expand their efforts in these key workforce areas.
“General Motors recognizes the urgent need for workforce development nationwide. That’s why we are investing over $1.5 million in the AACC EmployEd initiative to empower 18 community colleges with programs that create career pathways in manufacturing, IT, supply chain and logistics, automotive maintenance, and construction,” said David Massaron, GM vice president, Infrastructure and Corporate Citizenship. “GM is committed to developing the next generation of skilled professionals, advancing American manufacturing, jobs, and innovation.”
Since 1957, CCBC has opened the doors to accessible, affordable, high-quality education empowering generations of area residents to transform their lives and the lives of others. Each year, over 50,000 students enroll at the college’s main campuses, extension centers and online to make their starts, earn degrees, launch and build careers. CCBC offers the region’s most expansive selection of degree, certificate and workplace certification programs that prepare students for transfer, job entry and career advancement in such industries as business, education, health care, information technology, cybersecurity, construction, and transportation. Designated as the “Best Community College” among the Maryland Daily Record’s 2025 Reader Rankings, CCBC is also nationally recognized as a leader in innovative learning strategies and among the nation’s top associate degree producers.
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