The HVAC(heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) industry is a burgeoning field. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the HVAC job market will grow 34% through 2020. However, Maine’s rapidly aging workforce is exacerbating the demand for skilled technicians in the state. With this in mind, leaders in Maine’s HVAC industry have been looking to attract younger students into the field. While a “hands on” training facility is already in place to help prepare students for job roles within the HVAC industry, via the MEMA Technical Education Center (MTEC), there was still a missing component. MEMA noted that MTEC students needed a flexible, reasonable, and attainable option for financing their training courses. Younger students in particular were identified as facing greater challenges in financing their education, as they do not tend to have the resources that adult students have to pay for necessary training.
In direct response, MES and MEMA have created the MTEC Energy Education Loan. This new financing option was created exclusively to support MTEC Professional Licensing & Certification programs. These courses include HVAC Pro Certification, Energy Conservation & Oilheat Training, Basic Air Conditioning & EPA Certification, BPI & Advanced Training, Propane & Natural Gas, A/C and Refrigeration, and Management Training classes.
“MES saw this as a unique opportunity to help fulfill an unmet need for assistance in providing support for higher education where traditional financial aid resources fell short,” explained Darren Hurlburt, President and CEO of Maine Education Services. “These students were not eligible for any federal or state financial aid programs so their options were limited. Working closely with MTEC, MES tailored the MTEC Energy Education Loan program to specifically meet the needs of MTEC students.”
“We didn’t want lack of funding to be a barrier for our students,” stated Staci Best, Director of Marketing and Student Outreach at MTEC. “So we approached MES to see if they had any existing programs that would fit our requirements. While they did not have what we needed in place, they were willing to work with us to create a customized product to match our criteria.”
“We encourage other organizations to think outside the box, to partner with regional businesses to develop innovative solutions that will help Maine’s workforce develop the skills needed to effectively compete in the world’s economy in coming years,” stated Hurlburt.
Details about the MTEC Energy Education Loan can be found online at mesfoundation.org/our-loans/mtec-energy-education-loan.
About MES
MES is a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to higher education for all Maine students. Founded in 1993, MES is Maine’s one-stop resource for college planning, offering free tools for financial literacy, college preparation, and transitional support from high school to college and college to career.
For over 20 years, MES has successfully managed many internal and external scholarship programs as well as educational loan products. In doing so, MES has helped to provide countless opportunities for Maine students to achieve their post-secondary education goals. For more information on MES, visit www.mesfoundation.org or call 800-922-6352.
About MTEC
Since opening their state-of-the-art lab in 2004, MTEC has educated hundreds of students in the areas of oilheat, propane, natural gas, air conditioning, and refrigeration. As Maine’s leading career development resource for the HVAC industry, MTEC offers both entry level and experienced technicians the ability to gain the training needed to succeed and expand their skill sets on the very latest in installation, service, and repair.
MTEC instructors are Master Level technicians who have years of field experience and teaching credentials. Their courses provide a comprehensive balance of classroom study and hands-on learning, equipped with an unmatched scope of technology and equipment. For more information about MTEC, visit http://mtec4me.com.
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