$100K Johnson Controls Grant to Expand HVAC&R Program

May 4, 2022

The college received a $100,000 grant from the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program, allowing the college to expand resources dedicated to its certificate program in HVAC&R (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Cooling) Technology.

We are one of just 10 colleges across North America to be chosen for this grant, which invests in local technical college programs to support thriving career paths, spur local economic development, and narrow the global skilled labor gap. In addition to the initial investment, the college is eligible for up to three years of renewed funding, allowing the HVAC&R program to expand enrollment and serve future students.

“The college is very appreciative to receive this funding to support our rapidly growing clean-energy focused HVAC&R program,” said Chief Strategy Office Kristen Hurley. “Over the past few years, our HVAC&R program has doubled its enrollment, allowing the college to train a larger pipeline of HVAC&R technicians in a high-demand clean-energy field.  This investment enables the college to provide scholarships, additional Career Services for our students, and emergency funding for our HVAC&R students.”

Introduced in 2021, the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program has funded $15 million over the span of five years to non-profit community colleges throughout North America in support of their HVAC, fire, security and digital academic programs. Funding for each community college differs based on its needs; in general, colleges will use the funding to recruit, support, retain and graduate underserved students who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to pursue higher education.

The college will use the grant funding to address financial issues that can prevent students from entering or completing college. In addition to $60K in scholarships, the college will add $20K to an emergency fund to help HVAC&R students pay for tool kits, housing, clothing, food insecurities, and transportation. The remainder of the grant will be used to maintain the same high level of student coaching and career services support for HVAC&R students, despite the more than doubling of student enrollment in this program.

Local Johnson Controls employees in each market serve as volunteer educators and mentors, providing students with counseling and real-world experiences. The mentoring is directly incorporated into various college programs and provides a pathway for student internships and entry-level opportunities at Johnson Controls.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly eight million skilled-labor jobs were lost from the labor force during the pandemic. About half have been filled, but an estimated four million vacancies remain in industries responsible for more transportation, construction and mechanical needs nationwide. Additionally, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that nearly one-fourth of the manufacturing workforce is 55 or older; as they age and retire, there are not enough young people entering the trades to fill their positions. Filling these vacancies to support a healthy industry will take commitment and expertise across generations.

“At Johnson Controls we strive to provide students with appropriate insights, mentorship and knowledge to empower them to move forward with a successful career in infrastructure. In doing so, we will change the trajectory of lives for these students” said Nate Manning, Vice President and President of Building Solutions in North America. “We will continue steering our efforts and initiatives towards preparing the next generation for a rewarding and sustainable career path that will have a lasting impact on the future of green buildings.

About Johnson Controls
At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet. Building on a proud history of more than 135 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering. Today, with a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world`s largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry. Visit www.johnsoncontrols.com for more information and follow @Johnson Controls on social platforms.