HVAC Tech School Grant Program

With the HVAC Technical School Grant Program, you can earn extra funding to give students enhanced, real-world experience with propane, and better prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. Through this program, you can receive up to $10,000 of grant money by incorporating a provided curriculum into your program, and completing a few other requirements like acquiring specific propane equipment and appliances that will take hands-on learning to new heights.

HVAC TECHNICAL SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Give your students an elevated, hands-on learning experience, and more career opportunities after graduation, with a propane specific curriculum and the chance to outfit your classroom lab with propane related appliances and equipment. Apply today to take advantage of The Propane Education & Research Council’s (PERC’s) HVAC Technical School Grant Program.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for selection into the program, you must meet the following criteria:

You are a representative from an educational institution or career center (tech schools, community colleges, etc.) in the United States of America, that is at least 18 years of age, and is willing and able to expand your classroom lab and curriculum to include propane specific material and hands on resources.

High Schools are eligible for a $5,000 grant to incorporate the Overview of Propane Distribution Systems curriculum and accompanying list of appliances and equipment. This is a condensed, foundational propane systems program.

Technical Schools and Community Colleges are eligible for the $5,000 program or a $10,000 grant for the 80-hour HVAC and Plumber Technical Training curriculum and accompanying list of appliances and equipment. The full program was developed to support a one to two- week long curriculum that dives deeper into hands-on training.

There is a limit of one grant awarded per school location.

PARTICIPANT COMMITMENT

The HVAC Technical School Grant Program’s success lies solely in the installation of propane appliances and equipment in classrooms across the country where the propane curriculum is being incorporated.

Scope of Work

• Outfit the training facility in accordance with the PERC specified appliances and equipment that relate to the level of grant you are awarded. Lists can be found on page 4 and 5 in this document.
• Incorporate the curriculum in accordance with the level of grant you are awarded.
• Complete a contract. Applicants will receive 1099s.
• Appoint a “Propane Advisor” who:
  • Is a local propane retailer.
  • Shall be available to advise and cooperate with the instructor.
  • Shall speak to the class twice during the instruction period.
  • Will sign off on the safe installation of appliances.
  • Will sign off on a safe installation of the propane equipment, including the liquid transfer system to fill a hydrometer.
    • The Propane Advisor will help the school purchase the hydrometer through a contact we have at Bergquist. Contact information will be sent to the Advisor upon receiving their signed Propane Advisor Commitment Letter.
  • Will verify that all required appliances and equipment have been acquired.
  • Will complete an end of program survey.
• *PERC can help appoint this person if you do not have a Propane Advisor in mind.
• Provide PERC with proof of purchase for all required appliances and equipment.
• Encourage Students to seek certification through PERC’s Learning Center. 9.0- HVAC and Plumber Technical Training exam and skill assessment.
• Participate in a PERC marketing program highlighting receipt of the grant.
• Participate in a PERC communications and outreach program to promote the HVAC Technical School Grant Program.
• The class instructor attends a two-day, in-person Train the Trainer training class on the relevant curriculum, hosted by PERC. There will be separate classes held for recipients of the Overview of Propane Distribution Systems and HVAC and Plumber Technical Training. Dates TBD.
• PERC will book and cover the cost of a hotel room for two nights at the training.
• PERC will provide a group dinner after day one of training, breakfasts and lunch, and provide transportation to and from the hotel and school each day for training. The bus will go directly to the airport after training concludes on day two.
• Travel costs will come out of your grant funds.
• Complete an instructor survey at the end of the program.
• Provide any photos taken during instruction that we could use for further promotion of the grant program.
• Provide information on how the school is promoting the availability of the program.

Timing

The application period is September 1, 2024 – December 20, 2024. Applicants will receive a welcome or denial email in January via the email on the application. If you have been accepted into the program, you will receive a digital welcome packet with all the program components to complete.

Accepted applicants will receive 75% of funding once the program contract has been completed, and the remaining 25% at the completion of their program.

All elements of the program must be completed and sent to PERC by December 31, 2025.

ELIGIBLE EQUIPMENT

To support the curriculum, grantees are required to purchase a comprehensive set of appliances and equipment and will receive specific training materials from PERC. Only new equipment is eligible under this program. Refurbished or modified equipment will not be considered. You may acquire your appliances and equipment via donation.

PERC will provide all grant recipients with a physical copy of the curriculum correlated to the awarded level, as well as the download for the curriculum, five supplemental videos, instructor tools, and other resources.

PERC will also provide grantees with a Propane Regulator Test and Demo Training Board. This includes a 2-stage system, an integral 2-stage regulator, and an integral 2 psi regulator with an appliance regulator. The system demonstrates three different types of leak checks, flow, and lockup of each regulator in the system, and undersized gas piping and/or regulator issues. The supply source must be low pressure compressed air or other inert gas.

Schools receiving the $5,000 grant, featuring the eight-hour Overview of Propane Distribution Systems for HVAC and Plumbing Professionals curriculum must obtain the following propane materials for their classroom.

• Three pressure measuring devices: Water manometer with range up to 16″ w.c., a 0-300 psi gauge, and a 0-30 psi gauge.
• Liquid leak detector solution.
• Gas pipe, tubing, and fittings samples: short pieces of black iron pipe, copper tubing, and CSST with bonding clamp.
• Propane hydrometer and supply source cylinder with proper hose and fittings for liquid transfer outside of a building. This is the only item we have a preferred vendor for. Your Propane Advisor will receive the contact at Bergquist to facilitate the purchase with your grant funds.
• PPE: vinyl coated gloves and eye protection.
• One Propane Gas Appliance: on demand water heater or furnace.
• A propane supply tank, regulator(s), and gas piping for the appliance.

Schools receiving the $10,000 grant, featuring the 80-hour HVAC and Technical Training curriculum must obtain the following propane materials for their classroom.

• Three pressure measuring devices: Water manometer with range up to 16″ w.c., a 0-300 psi gauge, and a 0-30 psi gauge.
• Liquid leak detector solution.
• Gas pipe, tubing, and fittings samples: short pieces of black iron pipe, copper tubing, and CSST with bonding clamp.
• Propane hydrometer and supply source cylinder with proper hose and fittings for liquid transfer outside of a building. This is the only item we have a preferred vendor for. Your Propane Advisor will receive the contact at Bergquist to facilitate the purchase with your grant funds.
• PPE: vinyl coated gloves and eye protection.
• One category one propane appliance: Central heating furnace, tank water heater, vented fireplace, or space heater.
• One category three propane appliance: Central heating furnace, hydronic boiler, or unit heater.
• One category four propane appliance: Central heating furnace.
• Four venting components: short pieces of single wall pipe, double wall B-vent pipe, stainless steel pipe, PVC (or other category IV vent pipe material).
• Propane supply source, regulator(s), and gas piping for all appliances.

*Based on national averages, it is the expectation of PERC that the funding allocation costs cover the price of equipment and materials listed above. If you have further questions, please contact Elena Bennett at [email protected]