Eight North American heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and water heating industry associations, including the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI), have announced the formation of the HVACR Workforce Development Foundation. HRAI president Warren Heeley, sees good things from cross-border cooperation. “Our industries are inextricably linked, so it is to our mutual benefit to partner on these key industry initiatives,” noted Heeley. The Foundation will work to raise awareness of the industry, attract new members to the workforce, and enhance the quality of the available workforce in the industry. It will market to the industry, as well as federal and state education and labour departments, and career and technical education programs. It will also educate secondary school principals, counselors and teachers of the career prospects in the HVAC/R industry. Other Foundation members include ACCA; AHRI; the Air Movement and Control Association; ASHRAE; Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International; the Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors Association; and the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society.
