Polaris introduces the Service Technician Education Program ( STEP ) with Central Lakes College and leading powersports dealer Power Lodge . A $ 1m grant to the Minnesota college will bridge the skills gap and create job opportunities in rural counties and underserved communities . Polaris has announced the development of an innovative on-the-job training curriculum for upskilling and training powersports technicians . The Service Technician Education Program ( STEP ), which " leverages new connected vehicle technology to rapidly scale and grow the necessary future technician labor force , is in partnership with Central Lakes College ( CLC ) in Brainerd , Minn ., and leading powersports dealer Power Lodge CLC received a $ 1m grant to fund the program ." With the powersports and

marine industries seeing tremendous growth in 2020 , due in large part to more people looking for new and different ways to enjoy the outdoors , there has been an increased demand on dealerships tasked with helping to care for and maintain the vehicles . Serving as a pilot , the STEP program is being developed to help solve this challenge by connecting student technicians to hands-on , in-dealership

experience at a Power Lodge dealership while they complete their educational training at CLC . Students will be paid for their work as student technicians when working for the dealership as part of a new career pathway into the industry . " This program is about building

a connection between powersports businesses and students who have chosen powersports as their career . STEP brings new life to powersports and marine programs offered at colleges like CLC while strengthening this industry as a relevant and meaningful career path that fosters diversity , equity and inclusion ," said Bridget McLennan , Polaris Vice President , Dealer Services . Polaris , CLC and Power Lodge expect to train 80 student technicians and an additional 89 staff over the course of the grant , many of whom will be hired upon graduation .