NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - McCann Technical School in North Adams recently started an HVAC program at their school.

This program is the first in the county hoping to fill a need for HVAC professionals which is the industry working on heating, ventilation and cooling devices. 

Instructor Bob North says he owned his own HVAC business in Berkshire County and recognized the need for workers.

“There’s a lack of employees to hire, so I decided to teach HVAC and help get more employees out there in the field,” said North.

North says the students will learn how to service equipment and learn skills like braising and soldering, which is where they learn to join metals together using heat.

“I mean just to name a few, piping, gas piping, they’re going to be able to go out into the field, get in the van and actually get out and make a good living,” North said.

Companies like Laureyns United Heating and Cooling have experienced the need for workers. Darin Almeida with Laureyns United has helped bring industry support to the program.

“We’ve been co-oping students from the electrical program in order to try to facilitate our need for HVAC students," Almeida said. "So some years ago back through that program and speaking with the school I really emphasized the need that we need a form of training."

This led to the school reaching out to the state and receiving a $3.1 million grant in 2022 which helped build a building for the new program.

Now, McCann is hoping to find ways to extend the program to the current workforce or others who may want to learn.

“The current techs and people in the HVAC field have to travel long distances to get the latest training on the newest machines and equipment," Principal Justin Kratz said. "So now we are hoping we can offer that locally. But it’s been a great addition at the high school level as well because the kids are very excited."

Freshman at the school spent Monday testing out the program, and if they commit to it will start in January. 

“The students aren’t just coming away with a trade that they could have, they are also going after industry recognized credentials," said Greg King, who instructs computer assisted design, but helped create the course work for the HVAC program. "So that’s something when they graduate out of here they’re going to have a toolkit of knowledge, aside from just their hands on knowledge to be ready to either jump right in a van and start helping people in their business or possibly create their own business someday."

The first graduates of the program at McCann will be in the year 2028, but the students will be eligible for co-op with places like Laureyns United their junior and senior year.