One Stop Career celebrates 3rd aviation mechanic program graduation
One Stop Career Center has held its third pre-apprenticeship aviation mechanic class graduation in Aguadilla, marking continued success in workforce development and job placement. The program now reports an 83% employment rate in the aviation industry.
The latest class brings the total number of graduates to 47 individuals who have completed the intensive technical training, developed in partnership with the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla and its Puerto Rico Institute of Aeronautics and Aerospace. To date, 77% of 61 enrolled participants have graduated.
“What began as an idea that prioritized access to high-demand specialized careers… has become a driving force for change for dozens of young people in Puerto Rico,” said Executive Director Carmen Cosme-Pitre, noting the importance of public and private sector collaboration to align vision with action.
The program is part of the Moving Forward 2 Good Jobs initiative (A2GJ), a federally funded workforce initiative under the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge, and has enrolled participants ages 18 to 35 from across Puerto Rico, with a concentration from the western and northern regions. Two recent graduates were recruited by Gulfstream Aerospace in Georgia to join its Repair Station Aircraft Maintenance Technician Trainee program.
An investment of $148,000 — backed by the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC, in Spanish) — has helped cover transportation, materials and equipment for students.
“This isn’t just a training program. It’s a platform for transformation,” Cosme-Pitre said.
One Stop also leads the Aerospace Sector Advisory Committee, which develops strategies to expand the program and promote employment opportunities in aviation.
