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SARASOTA — Free training and guaranteed jobs are available in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, thanks to CareerEdge, Manatee Technical College, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and participating companies.

Graduates of the free, four-evenings-a-week classes at the college are guaranteed jobs with the participating employers at an average starting wage of $15 per hour, according to a CareerEdge news release.

The condensed version of the college’s HVAC Technician program resulted from CareerEdge meetings organized to determine the industry’s workforce needs.

The tuition-free, 225-hour training class will begin Jan. 22 and run through March, with classes from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at MTC’s main campus at 6305 State Road 70, in Manatee County. The program will include CareerEdge’s Bridges to Careers soft-skills training and Occupational Safety and Health Administration and CPR training.

To be eligible, applicants must have clean background and drug checks, a valid driver’s license, and the ability to lift 75 pounds and work in hot attics. No technical experience is required. Those interested in participating will need to apply for the program and be screened by the college and employers.

Local companies participating include Aqua plumbing, B & I, Artic Air, Air Service of Manasota Inc., DEL-AIR, Conditioned Air, MACCA and Veteran Air. Cool Today, Badger Bob’s, DEL-AIR and Ultimate Air are providing materials and teaching. Read More