Department of General Services (GSD), Equipment Mechanic Internship Program (EMIP)

Youth economic advancement

Central LA East LA South LA West LA San Fernando Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

MarketWatch Guide (Oct. 24), states that the U.S. Currently has an industry wide shortage of Equipment Mechanics and needs over 100,000 new auto technicians per year to keep up with demand.
GSD has a fleet of over 10,000 vehicles and is responsible for the purchase, maintenance and repair of these vehicles and the training and safety of its employees. GSD has been affected by the mechanic shortage and has lost mechanics due to retirement, promotion and transfer and must compete, with other departments and outside agencies for technicians. To address the shortage GSD has created the Equipment Mechanic Internship Program (EMIP). GSD is in constant training mode and will provide training to EMIP participants. The EMIP provides high school seniors and community college students who have enrolled in automotive technology courses, on the job training. GSD, LA Trade Tech, and LAUSD are committed to a partnership that addresses academic achievement and economic equity.

The EMIP provides high school seniors, and community college students, with on-the-job training. Implementation of the EMIP is the first step to addressing the long-term vision of eliminating the Equipment Mechanic shortage Countywide. Additionally, the program is a career pathway for underrepresented youth to become mechanics and have successful careers in a fleet organization. EMIP addresses youth economic advancement through income equity and quality job attainment. Participants in the EMIP complete a 10-week program while receiving an hourly wage, critical to the survival of many low-income participants in the program. The Interns are engaged in technical training where they apply information they learn to the real world as they expand their knowledge. During the on-the-job training Interns work directly with a qualified Equipment Mechanic mentor to gain exposure to various types of equipment including cars, trucks, turf, and refuse collection vehicles.
Key collaborative partners for EMIP are LAUSD and LA Trade Tech. The partners are committed to a partnership that addresses academic achievement and economic equity. LAUSD and LA trade tech will conduct strategic outreach and recruitment for the program.

The long-term vision for this program is to change the county by creating two avenues for the EMIP graduates to become full time employees with fleet organizations while resolving LA's mechanic shortage. The framework for this vision is twofold the first transition successful EMIP participants to City of Los Angeles Vocational Worker positions; after six months appoint them to Garage Attendant Assistant positions. After 6 months appoint them to a City of Los Angeles Garage Attendant.
The second part of the vision is to create an Equipment Mechanic Apprenticeship Program (EMAP) to allow EMIP graduates to be to be appointed to the EMAP. The EMAP is a promotion and is a paid 2 year on the job and classroom training program. Participants work during the day and go to school in at night. EMAP participants will progress from Equipment Mechanic Trainee to Equipment Mechanic Assistant and then to Equipment Mechanic.
These programs will provide economic equity in underserved areas of LA.