The National Automobile Dealers Association’s midyear report details continuous rise of employment and payroll at U.S. new-car dealerships in the first six months of 2017.

Improving from a record 1,131,900 in 2016, new-car dealerships employed 1,134,200 workers through the second quarter of 2017.

NADA Data 2017: Midyear Report provides a biannual financial portrait of new-car dealerships, including data regarding employment, payroll and more.

“We expect to see employment at new-car dealerships reach an all-time high at the end of 2017,” said Patrick Manzi, NADA senior economist. “In addition to the direct employment provided by dealerships, more than another million other jobs in local communities are dependent on dealerships.”

The average allowance for employees at new-car dealerships was $69,784 per year in 2016. With increased employment, the payroll at new-car dealerships have reached approximately $33 billion, resulting in an 11 percent increase from 2016.

Last month, Walt Sweeney Ford raised $6,000 for the Delhi Skirt Game through Ford’s “Drive 4 UR Community” program. As a longtime sponsor of the event, which celebrated it’s 40th anniversary this summer, Walt Sweeney Ford has been instrumental in supporting the organizers fundraising efforts and the important work they do in Delhi Township.

The Drive 4 UR Community program was inspired by the success of Ford’s “Drive 4 Ur School” event, which began in 2007. The program pairs local Ford dealerships with community organizations to generate $20 for every test drive taken during a certain period. The maximum donation from Ford is $6,000.

During the weekend of September 16, over 300 people came to test drive a new Ford, maxing out the donation amount from Ford! The money will go to help needy children at Christmastime in Delhi township.

Make sure to mark your calendar for next year’s Delhi Skirt Game, which will be held on Thursday, August 2, 2018!