According to FSU, there are several reasons why the hvacr trade should get behind this bill:

• There is an extreme shortage of qualified technicians in the hvacr trade, which has a limiting effect on growth of many contractors’ businesses.
• More than 25 jobs await each graduate of the FSU program, where placement levels have been at 100% for several years.
• Enrollment in the FSU program rose 37% between 1993 and 1998; in fall 1999, 135 students were enrolled in the program and projections are for 262 students by 2010.
• The students are presently in crowded classrooms and laboratories; a new, state-of-the-art facility could accommodate new students in an improved learning environment.
• Finally, FSU is renowned for being a premier teaching facility for the hvacr trade with an active and well-organized Student Chapter of the Mechanical Service Contractors of America.

Contractors, manufacturers, vendors, and other interested parties are urged to contact their own State Representative or Senator, regardless of what state they are from, and ask them to support Michigan Senate Bill 968 (S-1).

The Michigan House was scheduled to return from a break on April 10. The appropriation bill was scheduled to be one of the first items to be considered. According to hvacr program coordinator Mike Feutz, the timing is very important.

“They [the House] may have already acted on it after their break,” he said. “But we still need everyone’s support.”

A sample letter and e-mail are included in Figure 1 above for people interested in contacting their Representative or Senator.

For more information, contact Mike Feutz at feutzm@ferris.edu (e-mail) or 231-591-2492 (fax).