For Mazda dealerships in need of qualified technicians for their service drive or reconditioning center, help appears to be on the way.

On Wednesday, Lincoln Educational Services Corp. introduced Mazda Automotive Student Training (MAST) at its Union, N.J., campus.

School officials said through a news release that students who are enrolled in automotive technology training can add this option to their program and build career skills specific to Mazda technologies.

The launch of MAST was celebrated at the campus last week when representatives from Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) joined Lincoln Tech faculty, staff and administrators to officially introduce the training opportunity.

According to the announcement, the new program includes a number of benefits for accepted students such as career placement opportunities with a living wage at participating local Mazda dealerships, one-on-one mentorships with Mazda master or senior certified techs, discounts on tool kits and Mazda vehicles and up to $15,000 in student tuition reimbursements.

“MNAO has been a valued partner of our Queens, N.Y., campus since 2019 and recently expanded their presence to our Columbia, Md., campus. We’re grateful and excited to now call them a partner in Union, N.J., as well,” Lincoln Tech president and chief executive officer Scott Shaw said in the news release.

“The benefits to both our graduates and the region’s Mazda dealers make this a win-win that we expect will pay dividends for years to come,” Shaw went on to say.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nation is projected to have 617,000 openings for automotive technicians by 2028, with New Jersey and New York expected to have more than 55,000 openings.