The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has announced the 2024 award recipients for its Technical School Grant Programme.
The 2024 programme will provide funding to 39 educational institutions in 24 states in the US looking to expand the use of propane in their HVAC and plumbing curriculum and resources.
More than 3,000 students will get access to education to enhance their skills and career opportunities post-graduation.
Educators will receive up to $US10,000 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, institutions will also get access to important 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 programme. In 2024 alone, PERC estimates that 3,000 students looking to pursue a career in HVAC and plumbing will be impacted by this grant.
PERC senior manager of industry training and education, Elena Bennett, said educating technicians on how to safely work with propane systems is such a rewarding experience.
“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 prioritise this in their curriculum,” she said.
Educators of selected institutions will complete a training course through PERC this summer in preparation for classroom implementation in the fall. More than 90 grant applications were submitted 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," said Mark Murphy, a 2021 grant recipient from Northwest Tech."The preparation they are getting from this program is invaluable."
Applications for the 2025 Technical School Grant Program are now open through December 20. To learn more, visit propane.com/technical-school-grant-program/
PERCis a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programmes and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.