Gottheimer Visits BMW North American HQ on Made In The Fifth Tour

Woodcliff Lake Home to Innovative Tech Job Training Programs

GLEN ROCK, NJ – On Tuesday, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer toured the BMW North American Corporate Headquarters in Woodcliff Lake. This location employs 1,200 people and is also home to the company’s Service Technician Education Program (STEP), a 16-week, BMW-specific technician education course designed to prepare students for a career with BMW. The BMW of North America Headquarters includes the Eastern  Region technical training center, one of four purpose-built buildings owned by BMW to provide technical training to dealers, apprentices, and STEP students that are entry-level technicians.

“BMW is a world-class company and their Woodcliff Lake site is home to many North Jersey jobs, making this a key stop on my Made In The Fifth Tour. What I loved to see during my tour was the top-notch job training happening right here in North Jersey because with the right skills we can harness the workforce here to take these jobs and stay here with their families,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Businesses like BMW are creating jobs and boosting our local economy, which is why I will keep fighting to lower taxes, invest in our infrastructure and vocational education to help you grow and invest in New Jersey.”

BMW STEP is a specialty program that provides students with hands-on technical training and prepares them for a career with BMW, whether they want to specialize in BMW vehicles, MINI, Motorcycles, or Body and Paint. By the end of 2018, BMW STEP will have graduated over 3,800 trainees into the workforce since the the program began. The program also works with technical post-secondary trade schools and community colleges to provide BMW specific training, job fairs, career days and events that promote careers within the automotive industry. BMW has also announced an $8 million investment in the Woodcliff Lake campus to increase the number of classrooms and facilities to train apprentices.