Training for Residential Energy Contractors Grant Program
Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) Grant Program
Funding to train and expand Colorado’s HVAC workforce to support beneficial electrification.
Funding Overview
Type: Grant
Eligibility: Community Colleges, Trade or Technical Schools, Private Training Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations, and Organized labor or industry associations. Certifying Agencies, Employers, and Manufacturers are eligible for the Upskilling Grant only.
Amount: $50,000-$350,000 per awardee per grant program
Match: None
Application Open: Future rounds to be determined
Background
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) Grants have two main goals:
- Build out training programs to prepare new entrants to the heat pump HVAC workforce
- Upskill the current HVAC workforce in heat pump technology
The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) has opened two different TREC Grant funding opportunities:
- Grant 1: HVAC Heat Pump New Entrant Training Grant funds existing or new training programs with an emphasis on heat pump technology to prepare new entrants to the HVAC workforce.
- Grant 2: HVAC Heat Pump Upskilling Grant enables existing workers to receive Energy Skilled Recognized heat pump certifications.
Learn more about the awarded projects
Sign up for updates about the TREC grant
Meet the TREC Workforce Advisory Group (WAG)
The Workforce Advisory Group (WAG), which includes members from industry, training providers, and nonprofits, advises the CEO TREC Team. Its primary function is to offer insights and feedback to help the team understand the unique needs, challenges, and opportunities related to training and recruiting both new and current HVAC technicians. This focus is particularly important as it pertains to the deployment and installation of heat pumps.
- Tim Braun, R H Mechanical
- Joslynn Ortiz, Plains Heating
- Cornelio Martinez, Maize Mechanical
- Matthew Peiffer, Colorado Mesa University
- Matt Sweeney, Red Rocks Community College - Heat Pump Continuing Ed Program
- Amy Beley, Contractor + Workforce Consulting
- Ben Gerig, Colorado Succeeds, Project Scale
- Joseph Johnson, Vision Transition
Eligible Applicants
HVAC Heat Pump New Entrant Training Grant
- Community Colleges
- Trade or Technical Schools
- Private Training Organizations
- Nonprofit Organizations,
- Organized labor or industry associations
HVAC Heat Pump Upskilling Grant
- Community Colleges
- Trade or Technical Schools
- Private Training Organizations
- Nonprofit Organizations,
- Organized labor or industry associations
- Certifying Agencies
- Employers
- Manufacturers
To ensure statewide access to resources and training, applicants serving rural and rural resort regions are especially encouraged to apply.
Eligible Projects
HVAC Heat Pump New Entrant Training Grant
Awardees may use these funds to:
- Expand curricula to include heat pump training
- Purchase training equipment
- Recruit new students
- Cover other costs associated with training activities.
HVAC Heat Pump Upskilling Grant
Awardees may use funds to:
- Subsidize the costs of training and support services for contractors
- Purchase training equipment
- Cover other costs associated with training activities
More details on eligibility for each program are available in the respective Grant Application Materials folders linked below.
How to apply
CEO is not currently accepting applications for this program. Future funding rounds are to be determined. Application materials, the Q&A document, and an informational webinar from the previous application round are available for reference below for both programs. Any future application rounds are subject to changes.
View previous application materials
View previous webinar recording
View previous Q&A document