Central Los Angeles : Pep Boys Joins Auto Training Program

The Los Angeles Urban League’s automotive training center in the Crenshaw district has joined in a partnership with Philadelphia-based Pep Boys to provide instruction and employment for 300 people in the next year, officials announced Thursday.

The automotive training center was established in 1992 after the Los Angeles riots in a joint venture with Toyota to teach skills that would lead to careers in the automotive industry.

The Pep Boys partnership will train participants in the Urban League’s center for jobs from cashiers and customer service representatives to custom parts installers, said Fred Stampone, senior vice president of administration for Pep Boys. Salaries will range from $5 to $17 an hour, Stampone said.

“We really believe that a business is viable when a community is viable,” Stampone said. “These are not just entry-level wages.”

Pep Boys has agreed to spend $750,000 over the next three years on the project. Funding is also being provided by the city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Private Industry Councils through the federal Job Training Partnership Act.

“This provides real, legitimate job opportunities to help people put food on the table . . . and become contributing members of the community,” said John Mack, president of the Urban League.