By Hank Russell
A Milwaukee-based company has renewed its agreement with a local educational institution to fund one of its career programs.
Johnson Controls (JCI) has renewed its commitment to Suffolk County Community College’s Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) program with funding of up to $100,000 annually for the next three years. This new pledge builds on four years of prior support; the college says this underscores Johnson Controls’ ongoing investment in preparing Suffolk students for success in high-demand technical fields.
The renewed support ensures Suffolk students have access to critical opportunities that combine classroom learning with real-world experience, including:
- The JCI Fellows Program, offering students their first professional work opportunity as Student Aides.
- The annual JCI Career Fair, bringing dozens of recruiters to campus to meet with hundreds of Suffolk students.
- Scholarships and awards, including the Tools of the Trade recognition for students demonstrating strong academic achievement.
- Air Source Cold Climate Heat Pump research, which awards stipends to students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher to investigate best practices in installation and preventive maintenance.
“We are incredibly grateful for Johnson Controls’ continued investment in our students and programs,” said Dr. Edward Bonahue, president of Suffolk County Community College. “This renewed grant ensures that Suffolk can provide the opportunities that prepare our graduates to thrive in the skilled trades while also strengthening the local workforce and supporting sustainable technologies.”
Since its inception in 2021, the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program has provided funding annually to community colleges across North America to help prepare students for rewarding careers in sustainable building practices. Suffolk has proudly participated in the initiative from the beginning, ensuring that local students gain the technical training, professional experiences, and industry connections they need to succeed while helping to address the region’s skilled trades gap.
Johnson Controls is a provider of products and solutions for building automation and controls, HVAC equipment, industrial refrigeration, fire detection and suppression, security, residential and smart homes, retail, energy efficiency and renewables. Among the industries they serve are data centers, commercial real estate, education, government, housing, healthcare, hospitality, housing, sports and entertainment.
“The Community College Partnership continues to empower institutions to equip students for success in the skilled trades,” said Katie McGinty, Johnson Controls’ vice president and chief sustainability and external relations officer. “Our collaboration with these colleges is creating real career pathways and driving meaningful progress in closing the skilled trades gap across North America.”