3M and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) have awarded a $10,000 grant to the Auto Body Repair program at Greenville Technical College (GTC). GTC is one of only two colleges in the nation to receive this funding.

The grant funds will be used to pay for tools and equipment to enhance training opportunities GTC provides. GTC is considered a CREF Benchmark Tier 1 school, meaning that the college has advanced capabilities in preparation for employment in the collision industry as evidenced by number of hours of instruction, curriculum, tools, equipment, and supplies. CREF funding will allow the college to purchase items that further advance and support the program.

“This donation is important in ensuring that our students have the best career preparation tools available,” said Brian Easler, Transportation Technologies department head at Greenville Technical College. “We are proud of the education we provide and the graduates we produce, and with this support, we can continue to advance collision repair education.”

“You’ve built the program that the rest of the world needs to see,” said Clark Plucinski, executive director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation. “It is a pleasure to help Greenville Technical College prepare the next generation of collision industry professionals.”