Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Board of Commissioners - District 2
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): Commission District 2
To Appropriate $25,000 to the Jumpstart Automotive Training Center (JATC) to Provide Technical Training to Under-Resourced Youths and Young Adults
Body
Information Contact: Michelle Long Spears
Phone Number: 404-371-2863
PURPOSE:
To Appropriate $25,000 to the Jumpstart Automotive Training Center (JATC) to provide technical training to under-resourced DeKalb County youths and young adults so they can secure well-paying jobs in the automotive industry.
NEED/IMPACT:
The Jumpstart Automotive Training Center (JATC) offers a proven, scalable solution to youth unemployment and recidivism in underserved communities-including DeKalb County, which accounts for the highest percentage (27%) of participants served. JATC equips young people ages 15 to 25, primarily from low-income backgrounds and high-risk environments, with hands-on automotive repair training, life skills, and employment support. The program boasts impressive outcomes: 100% job placement for graduates, 80% retention in the automotive field, and overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, who report feeling prepared and confident to enter the workforce.
Investing in JATC directly addresses several key county priorities-youth development, workforce readiness, and public safety-by providing a constructive pathway out of poverty and instability. The program’s innovative model of combining real-world automotive work with mentorship, soft-skills development, and reinvestment of earned revenue (40% of JATC’s budget) ensures long-term sustainability. Notably, JATC’s partnerships with local employers such as MARTA, Nalley Dealership Group, and Toyota South enable graduates to transition smoothly into full-time positions. Funding JATC is not only an investment in economic development but also in human potential and community resilience.
FISCAL IMPACT:
An amount not to exceed $25,000 to the Jumpstart Automotive Training Center (JATC) from the Board of Commissioners District 2 Reserve for Appropriation (00202.579002.100.0000.0000).
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the allocation of $25,000 and authorize the Chief Executive Officer or her designee to execute all necessary documents.