A Climate Careers Fund Loan Helped Edward Build a Career in HVAC

Workforce & Education Investments, Workforce & Economic Mobility

Edward spent years working as a handyman, often traveling an hour each way for jobs that were low-paying and inconsistent. Then, after six months on a waitlist, he got a call about an opening in a 17-week HVAC program at Greenfield Community College. “It was such a good opportunity on paper. I stopped what I was doing and started the next week,” he said. By the time Edward finished, he had the Massachusetts Oil Burner Technician License and a range of other credentials in hand.

When he heard about a zero-interest loan through the Climate Careers Fund, his first instinct was skepticism. “It sounds almost too good to be true,” he said. Based on past loan experiences, he was cautious about reading the fine print and looking for hidden fees. After reviewing the terms more closely, his concerns eased. “I didn’t find any red flags. The terms were very borrower-friendly and it was very user-friendly to navigate.”

Today, Edward is working as an apprentice at a family-run HVAC and fuel delivery business and is actively repaying his loan. “The loan gave me time to get my feet under me, and now I have a great job.” As a technician working across both traditional fuel systems and modern heat pumps, he sees firsthand how demand is shifting.

“Cooling, even in the Northeast, is now a bigger thing. People want to be comfortable in their homes. It’s becoming a lot more technologically advanced,” he said. That breadth also means flexibility: HVAC credentials can lead to service work, system design roles, and more. “It’s a lifelong career opportunity. It’s not something that’s going to go away.”

Next Story

With Support From the Google Career Certificates Fund, Patrick Revitalized His IT Career