Ford has a rich heritage of leading the charge as an American auto manufacturer. With a globally recognized footprint, the company is deeply proud of producing reliable vehicles and supporting a massive American workforce. During the recent “ACCELERATE the Essential Economy” conference in Michigan, Ford's executives detailed the pressing issues facing the American market and the proactive measures the company is taking.
What is “ACCELERATE the Essential Economy”?
The “ACCELERATE the Essential Economy” summit is a forum uniting educators, tradespeople, policymakers, and business leaders to navigate economic challenges. The September 2026 event marked the second time this summit was held, taking place at the iconic Michigan Central Station. The venue itself was highly symbolic of the strategic plans discussed. Having been fully restored by 3,000 skilled hands, Michigan Central Station now serves as the epicenter for cross-sector strategies to resolve the U.S. skilled trades shortage.
Ford was a key participant, joining forces with major partners such as Dycom, The Home Depot, and The Wallace Foundation. This powerful coalition is preparing a national public education campaign for 2027 to inspire the next generation of American tradespeople. Drawing on Ad Council data, the campaign focuses on the disparity: 38 percent of students consider trade careers, yet only 11 percent plan to follow through after high school. The initiative aims to clear the primary hurdles of stigma and a lack of proper information.
Ford's Action Plan
To effectively guide young workers toward skilled trades and open up career pathways, Ford and its partners have implemented a detailed action plan. Initially, Ford Philanthropy is augmenting transportation assistance in communities nationwide so that travel barriers do not hold back ambitious individuals. Concurrently, Ford Pro is unveiling Ford Pro Advantage, an industry-leading certified pre-owned program for Class 1-7 commercial vehicles. This will be available at over 700 Commercial Vehicle Centers, helping business owners easily acquire commercial fleets. Finally, in tandem with the launch of the Michigan Launchpad for Industrial Innovation & Transformation (Michigan LIFT), Ford Philanthropy and JPMorgan Chase committed $550,000 to Focus: HOPE, a Detroit nonprofit that provides crucial workforce education.
Contact us at Serramonte Ford today to learn more.