The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) announced it plans on awarding a $5,000 Snap-On tool grant to a rising young technician employed at a member shop thanks to a donation from the Utica National Group Foundation.

AASP/NJ Allied Board Member Joe Amato, Sr. of Amato Insurance Agency (a division of World Insurance Associates, LLC) said Utica National Insurance Group expressed interest in providing a benefit to AASP/NJ through its charitable foundation. He suggested that funds toward a scholarship or grant would be a good way for the association to provide a stepping stone to those who are up and coming in the industry.

AASP/NJ’s Scholarship Committee consulted with Snap-On, which will provide the association with a generous discount on tools to be purchased with the $5,000 award money.

“We are really excited about giving this opportunity to someone who has recently committed to the industry and needs some help filling their tool chest,” said Amato. “We know that tools can be extremely expensive. We were able to secure this money from Utica’s foundation, and AASP/NJ felt it would be a great idea to give it to someone who is just starting out.”

Added AASP/NJ Scholarship Committee member Ken Miller, “This is a great way to help give a young technician a head start. Snap-On has been more than generous in assisting us to help make this a reality.”

AASP/NJ will award the grant to a worthy candidate employed at a member shop who has been working in the industry for less than five years.

The award will be given out at AASP/NJ’s flagship event, the NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show, which will be held Sept. 10-12 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, N.J.

For more information on AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org.