St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) has received a $1.7 million grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to support the creation of a new Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) program at St. Clair County Technical Education Center (TEC).
The grant will support facility renovations, equipment purchases, and other capital costs associated with establishing the program, which is expected to welcome its first students in Fall 2027. Construction is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2027.
The opportunity grew from a conversation between RESA Superintendent Brenda Tenniswood and Randy Maiers, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County. Maiers connected RESA with representatives of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, giving RESA leaders the opportunity to share a vision that had been years in the making—built through careful planning, industry engagement, and ongoing conversations with local employers about the region’s workforce needs.
The new two-year program will prepare students for careers in a field with strong local hiring demand, helping address the growing need for skilled trades professionals throughout the county. The program will serve up to 52 students each school year and will also help reduce waitlists in existing TEC programs, expanding opportunities for students interested in construction, electrical systems, HVAC, and related fields.
“This grant represents an incredible investment in St. Clair County students and our regional workforce,” said Brenda Tenniswood, Superintendent of St. Clair County RESA. “For years, our team has been listening to students, employers, advisory committee members, workforce partners, local school districts, and community leaders to better understand the opportunities and challenges facing our region. While this funding is transformative, it is also a recognition of TEC’s longstanding reputation for excellence and its proven ability to prepare students for successful careers. We are deeply grateful to the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation for believing in our vision and helping make it a reality.”
“Expanding access to high-quality career and technical education is one of the most direct ways communities can help young people see and pursue meaningful futures,” said Kate Partington, Program Officer at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “St. Clair County RESA has built this program in close partnership with educators, employers, and workforce partners, which is exactly the kind of community-aligned approach that creates long-lasting opportunity. We are proud to support this investment in St. Clair County students and in the skilled talent that local employers need.”
The program will feature 13 fully equipped lab stations with a curriculum focused on technical skills, safety, diagnostic reasoning, and workplace readiness. Students will have the opportunity to earn industry credentials, participate in work-based learning experiences, and connect with apprenticeships, employment opportunities, and postsecondary pathways.
“Every year, we meet students who are excited about working with their hands, solving problems, and exploring a future in the skilled trades,” said Lesley Murphy, Director of Career and Technical Education and Principal of TEC. “This new HVAC program will give even more students the opportunity to turn those interests into real career possibilities while earning industry credentials, gaining real-world experience, and connecting with local employers who are eager to hire them. We can’t wait to see the impact this program will have on students, families, and our community.”