HARRISBURG, Pa. – HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College, will invest a $100,000 grant from Johnson Controls in training and educational opportunities to support future leaders in the skilled trades workforce. As an estimated 10,000 trade professionals are projected to leave the workforce each year over the next decade due to heightened retirements or career changes, HACC continues to prioritize investments in workforce training and recruitment to bridge the skilled trades gap.  

“We are grateful to Johnson Controls for providing this generous investment in our students. Growing awareness of trades opportunities, as well as bridging the skilled trades gap through our training programs, will give many students the knowledge and skills needed to create successful careers which will support and sustain Central Pennsylvania’s economy for years to come,” said HACC President and CEO John J. “Ski” Sygielski, MBA, Ed.D. 

Since 2021, the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program has annually distributed $1 million across ten community colleges in North America with a focus on vocational programs to inspire the next generation of workers. Grant recipients have the opportunity to receive a renewed grant for up to three years, creating long-term opportunities for program development. Each college has the option to receive the grants in full monetary value or to receive partial monetary funds along with technical equipment donated by Johnson Controls. 

HACC plans to use grant funds to increase enrollment, retention and completion in the following programs: heating, ventilation and air conditioning/refrigeration (HVAC); electrical technology; mechatronics and welding. In addition, grant funds will be used to increase the diversity of program participants by recruiting and retaining students from historically underrepresented groups and assisting graduates with finding family-supporting jobs with Johnson Controls or other companies.

Johnson Controls employees in the surrounding area also will work with HACC to mentor and encourage students to join the skilled trades workforce. Through relationship building with industry professionals, students will be able to ask mentors questions and get a glimpse into the promising career trajectory following training completion. 

“Not only are we investing in the next generation of workforce leaders, but the mentoring associated with this initiative reminds our employees why we do what we do,” said Julie Brandt, president of Building Solutions North America at Johnson Controls. “We’re looking at our future and through partnership with these colleges we’re all contributing to a better supported trades industry.”

To learn more about the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program, please visit: johnsoncontrols.com/corporate-sustainability/community/philanthropy/community-college-partnership 


About HACC
HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, is the first and largest of Pennsylvania’s 15 community colleges. HACC offers approximately 100 career and transfer associate degree, certificate and diploma programs to approximately 14,023 students. Also, the College serves students at its Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York campuses; through virtual learning; and via workforce development and continuing education training. For more information on how HACC is uniquely YOURS, visit hacc.edu. Also, follow us on Twitter (@HACC_info), follow us on Instagram (@HACC_edu), like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HACC64) and use #HACCNews.

About the HACC Foundation
The HACC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established in 1985 to raise private and corporate revenues in support of HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. The HACC Foundation provides funding for student scholarships, innovative academic programs, state-of-the art training equipment and modernized facilities. To learn more about the HACC Foundation, please visit haccfoundation.org. To contribute to the HACC Foundation, please visit hacc.edu/GiveNow. 

About Johnson Controls
At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet.

Building on a proud history of nearly 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering.

Today, with a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world`s largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry.

Visit www.johnsoncontrols.com for more and follow @Johnson Controls on social platforms.