Technical Trade Scholarships Expand for 40 Students
New scholarship funding from CRC Industries offers students in skilled trades an opportunity to offset training costs.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Scholarships
Live Poll
Should companies invest more in vocational training programs to address the shortage of skilled trades workers?
CRC Industries has expanded its Build for the Future initiative, which connects technical students with scholarship funding and hands-on training. The program supports the skilled trades sector through partnerships and the auction of custom-built vehicles.
Why it matters
By funding technical education through vehicle auctions, the initiative aims to increase career awareness and reduce financial barriers for students pursuing skilled trade careers. This helps students offset the costs associated with specialized vocational training.
CRC Industries awarded 40 scholarships of $2,500 each in 2026, totaling $100,000. These funds are distributed through the TechForce Foundation to support students entering the skilled trades.
The players
CRC Industries
A chemical manufacturing company that funds technical education and skilled trades training.
TechForce Foundation
A non-profit organization that provides scholarships and career resources to students in the skilled trades.
Barrett-Jackson
A premier auction house that facilitates the sale of collector vehicles to support charitable and educational initiatives.
The details
The program generates scholarship capital by building custom vehicles in collaboration with automotive personalities and selling them at auction. The current featured build, a 1977 Chevrolet C10 truck, will be sold to raise further funds at the upcoming Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction. Students interested in these awards should monitor partner organizations for upcoming application windows.
Timeline
CRC Industries awarded $100,000 in scholarships throughout 2026.
The initiative was showcased at the SEMA 2026 conference in October 2026.
The 1977 Chevrolet C10 will be auctioned at Barrett-Jackson in January 2027.
Education Landscape
This program aligns with broader private-sector efforts to address the national shortage of skilled trade technicians. It follows the pattern of using philanthropic vehicle auctions to fund vocational training and reduce the debt burden for technical students.
Students pursuing skilled trades should monitor the TechForce Foundation for future scholarship application cycles. Contact your school's financial aid office to determine if you are eligible for these or similar industry-sponsored vocational awards.
The takeaway
Private-sector initiatives provide a unique funding path for students in technical fields by linking industry partnerships with vocational aid. If you are training for a skilled trade, verify your eligibility for industry-specific foundations and monitor major auction events for program updates.
Further reading
To explore additional financial support options for your vocational education, visit our page on Scholarships.
Source note: This article includes information reported by AftermarketNews.
Live Poll
Should companies invest more in vocational training programs to address the shortage of skilled trades workers?
