WHARTON — Wharton County Junior College has been awarded $329,091 in state funding to purchase and install equipment for heating and air conditioning training.
The grant will help train 35 students as HVAC mechanics and installers, according to an announcement from Gov. Greg Abbott’s office released Monday, Oct. 12.
WCJC already offers an Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration and Electrical Technology program, where students learn to install, maintain and repair HVACR and electrical systems.
Coursework includes air conditioning troubleshooting, gas and electric heating, heat pumps, commercial air conditioning and commercial refrigeration, along with electrical safety and wiring. Students also receive preparation for the Environmental Protection Agency’s refrigerant recovery certification.
The program has connections to employers across the area. Its advisory committee includes representatives from businesses in Wharton, El Campo, Bay City and Rosenberg, who help keep the training relevant to industry needs.
WCJC’s grant comes through the Texas Workforce Commission’s Jobs and Education for Texans program, which helps schools purchase equipment to start or improve training for high-demand careers.
Other recipients in the surrounding region include:
| School | Grant amount | Training supported |
|---|---|---|
| Weimar ISD | $155,562 | 100 welding students, partnering with Blinn College |
| Fayetteville ISD | $355,176 | 40 welding students, partnering with Blinn College District |
| Brazosport College | $222,509 | 80 registered nursing students |
| College of the Mainland | $355,686 | 146 registered nursing students |
| Galveston College | $293,886 | 320 welding students |
| San Jacinto Community College | $130,643 | 83 students training as vessel captains, mates and pilots |
| Lone Star College | $49,667 | 120 engineering technology students |
| Lee College | $97,964 | 15 engineering technology students |
The awards are part of 84 grants totaling more than $20 million statewide. Equipment funded through the grants is expected to help train more than 7,400 students during the first year.
People interested in WCJC’s HVAC and electrical technology program can contact program director Philip Hamlin at 979-532-6434 or hamlinp@wcjc.edu.
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