PERC Technical School Grant Program selects recipients

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) selected the 2024 award recipients for its Technical School Grant Program.

The 2024 program will provide funding to 39 educational institutions in 24 states looking to expand the use of propane in their HVAC and plumbing curricula and resources.

Students will receive hands-on learning to enhance their skills and career opportunities post-graduation. Educators will receive up to $10,000 and instruction materials to cover in-depth topics around propane usage, installation and safety in applications such as water heaters, furnaces and boilers. Through the grant program, institutions will also gain access to propane industry tools like a propane regulator test board, propane hydrometers and pressure-regulating devices to enhance their current curriculum.

Since its launch in 2021, more than 100 technical schools have received funding through the program. In 2024 alone, PERC estimates that the grant will impact 3,000 students looking to pursue careers in HVAC and plumbing.

“Having the opportunity to educate future HVAC and plumbing technicians across the country on how to safely work with propane systems is such a rewarding experience,” says Elena Bennett, senior manager of industry training and education at PERC. “Propane is an energy source that can really turn some heads when you learn more about its reliability, efficiency and sustainability benefits. It’s exciting to know that educators want to prioritize this in their curriculum.”

Educators of selected institutions will complete a training course through PERC in the summer in preparation for classroom implementation in the fall.

PERC received more than 90 grant applications in 2023.

“Not only has this curriculum provided extended learning for our students who are entering the trade, but it has given us essential equipment so they can get hands-on experience working with propane systems,” says Mark Murphy, a 2021 grant recipient from Northwest Tech. “The preparation they are getting from this program is invaluable.”

To learn more about the grant program, visit propane.com/technical-school-grant-program/.