Norwalk, Conn. — Powell’s Air Butler HVAC is the only Wyoming winner of HomeServe’s first ever Apprentice and Training Grant Program, an initiative designed to support workforce development in the skilled trades industry.

“It has allowed us to send technicians to training, and it also is going to cover future training that we have coming up soon,” Britni Sumpter, Air Butler’s general manager said, adding, “It’s going to bring all of our technicians up to speed on their EPA training, as well as our comfort adviser has also been brought up to speed on duct design training. So it’s been hugely helpful.”

The grants, totaling $50,000, were awarded to the top 20 applicants, all of whom are contractor companies that are a part of HomeServe’s network. The funds will be used by each winning company to invest in apprentice training and employee upskilling programs during the year.  

“At HomeServe, we know the incredible value skilled tradespeople bring to our business and to the communities we serve. We also recognize the challenges associated with the skilled trades gap where not enough workers are going into these important fields,” said HomeServe CEO Tom Rusin. “This grant program is part of HomeServe’s larger skilled trades initiative to ensure our contractor companies have the next generation of skilled labor ready to fill these rewarding careers that keep our country moving forward and our homes running smoothly.”

Recipients were selected through a competitive review process that evaluated their proposed training initiatives and the anticipated impact on their business and workforce.

 One of the winning contractors, Cedtronics Wire Service of Memphis, Tennessee, shared their gratitude about the grant and the impact it will have on their company. “So excited for your help and what this is going to do for my company — now I won’t have to do all the teaching, training and basic work alone, and that’s needed in this industry,” Cedtronics Wire Service, a winning contractor out of Tennesse said. “[This grant] is helping me to build a strong team and to be able to fulfill a dream.”

The Apprentice and Training Grant Program is a key component of HomeServe’s broader Skilled Trades Initiative, aimed at strengthening and expanding the skilled labor force. HomeServe currently partners with more than 2,600 vetted, local contractors that the business relies on to serve its homeowner customers across the country. In addition to this Grant Program, in the coming months, HomeServe will announce strategic partnerships with leading professional trade associations that share a commitment to promoting and sustaining careers in the skilled trades.

The skilled trades are experiencing significant labor shortages due to a variety of factors including an aging workforce, reduced vocational programs and reduced interest from younger generations. In fact, there was a shortage of about 500,000 skilled trades workers in 2024 and it remains in 2025, causing project delays and increased costs. This highlights a pressing need for investment in training and development within the skilled trades, which HomeServe is committed to providing through the Grant Program and larger Skilled Trades Initiative.

About HomeServe USA

HomeServe USA Corp. (HomeServe), a leading residential infrastructure home repair solutions company with more than 4 million customers across North America, offers protection plans that help protect homeowners against the expense and inconvenience of plumbing, electrical, HVAC and other home repair emergencies. HomeServe empowers over 1,300 leading municipal and utility partners to educate and advocate for their customers who are faced with home repair emergencies.

HomeServe has an exceptional customer satisfaction rating, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and is endorsed by the National League of Cities.

For more information about HomeServe and to get the latest home repair advice and customer stories, please go to www.homeserve.com. Connect with HomeServe on Facebook and Twitter @HomeServeUSA, Instagram @HomeServe_USA and on LinkedIn @HomeServe-USA. For company news, follow on X @HomeServeUSNews.

(Braden Schiller contributing.)