A Trade School Near You Could Receive $10,000 To Teach Propane Curriculum

Share This Grant With Area Schools

Starting August 1, trade schools, technical schools, community colleges and career centers across the country can apply to receive $10,000 from the national Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) to add pre-developed propane curriculum and related equipment to their classroom through the Technical School Grant Program. PERC has earmarked $200,000 for the program and will accept up to 20 schools.

The HVAC & Plumber Technical Training course was developed to support a one- to two-week long curriculum, approximately 80 hours, diving deeper into hands-on training in 15 different modules.

This means more students will learn about propane systems. These students could become qualified technicians at your company in the future. Reach out to the schools in your area to see if they would like to teach the propane specific HVAC & Plumber Technical Training curriculum and encourage them to apply.

Participant commitment. The Technical School Grant Program’s success lies solely in the installation of propane equipment and tools in classrooms across the country where the propane curriculum, HVAC and Plumber Technical Training, is being incorporated and certifications are being sought.

PERC will provide a physical copy of the HVAC and Plumber Technical Training course, as well as a USB with five supplemental videos, instructor tools, and curriculum.

“The training manual that was sent was freaking awesome. My adjunct instructor and I thought that it was well laid out and had a lot of great information. We plan to use it next semester and better incorporate for round two,” said Justin Herndon, Tri County Tech. College.

To support the curriculum, grantees are required to purchase a comprehensive set of tools, supplies, and new appliances including: 1. Pressure measuring devices; 2. A liquid leak detector system; 3. Gas pipe, tubing and fitting samples; 4. A propane hydrometer and supply source cylinder with proper hose and fittings for liquid transfer outside of a building; 5. A natural draft propane appliance; 6. A category III propane appliance; 7. A category IV propane appliance; and 8. Venting components.

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

The grant allows schools like Northwest Tech and others to purchase this equipment for instruction needs. Mark Murphy with Northwest Tech touts “We appreciate the partnership that you have provided through the receipt of this grant. It has allowed us to extend learning for our students, as well as provide us with essential equipment for our program.”

Propane advisors. Part of this program requires the participating school to connect with a local propane professional, a local propane market-

er, to act as their Propane Advisor.

The Propane Advisor will agree to: • Be available to the class instructor when propane related questions arise. • Speak to the class on no less than two separate dates during the instruction period. • Sign off on the installation of equipment and availability of materials. • Complete an end of program survey.

Deadline. The application period is open now and ends November 30, 2022. There is a limit of one grant awarded per school.

The Accepted applicants will receive 75% of funding up front, and the remaining 25% at the completion of their program.

How Schools Can Apply. Visit https://propane.com/supportingthe-propane-workforce/technical-school-grant-program/ to learn more, determine eligibility, and apply.

Questions? Please contact Elena Bennett at elena.bennett@propane.com or call 202-452-8975

Important Dates

Application period: August 1 - November 30, 2022 Selections announced via email: December 2022 Instructional period: January - December 2023

Share with Schools. Download and print the 2-page grant brochure for your area schools at the above website.

Past Grant Texas Recipients

Collin County Community College and the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association of San Antonio are past recipients of the grant and currently implementing the training in 2022.

Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association of San Antonio is working with the state chapter to get the course recognized for continuing education from the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners for the future.

Texans Attend PERC Propane HVAC Train the Trainer

This past July, HVAC and plumbing instructors from 30 states including the great state of Texas, joined PERC in Tampa, Fla., to attend PERC’s Train the Trainer event.

During the two-day class, instructors learned how to teach PERC’s HVAC and Plumbing Technical Training course and topics covered included: • Vapor Distribution Systems • Appliance Installation Requirements • Interior Gas Piping Installation Requirements • Tests and Checks

Additionally, attendees got hands-on experience with a hydrometer and a regulator board.

Those who attended were thankful for the experience and knowledge.

“Thank you for providing this opportunity for us to upgrade our curriculum in our HVAC and Plumbing programs” – Mike Brucia, North Central Texas College

“This training answered a lot of questions on how to deliver the material” – Stephen Pierce, Collin County Community College, which incorporates the propane curriculum in their HVAC course.

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Member

Contact John S. Porter, CIC Mark D. VanDover, CIC Miles T. McFann Rhonda Wood

1305 South First Street • Lufkin, Texas (936) 634-3326 • 1-800-223-1289 Emails: john.porter@lumbermen.net • mark.vandover@lumbermen.net mmcfann@austin.rr.com • rhonda-wood@lumbermen.net • www.lumbermen.net