In Genesee County, the plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) industry isn’t just hot — it’s booming.
At its root, the HVAC industry is all about making indoor air comfortable, clean, and efficient for people and businesses. Whether it’s heat and central air for your home or office building, climate control for factory machines or products, or filtering out allergens and germs in hospitals, state-of-the-art HVAC systems are in demand everywhere.
To meet that demand, Genesee County has become a standout region for engineering, manufacturing, and managing HVAC systems in use around the globe today.
And it’s big business.
According to Lightcast, a global leader in labor market analytics, Genesee County has added over 900 jobs in this industry, equating to 73% growth over the past decade. In addition, employment in the HVAC industry is 79% more concentrated in Genesee County than the national average.
This regional growth has been fueled by a wave of public and private investment, innovation, and a regional push to train the next generation of engineers, technicians, and tradespeople in the HVAC industry.
“Genesee County’s strong labor force, industrial heritage, and infrastructure make it uniquely suited for the HVAC industry,” said Jim Huff, president of Kais-AIR in Grand Blanc.
The HVAC industry is diverse, offering services including system design, installation, maintenance, and equipment manufacturing for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. New HVAC systems are now considered “mission- critical” to the success, efficiency, and regulatory compliance in industries ranging from electric vehicle batteries and computer chips to pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
Economic forecasters predict the industry is poised for continued growth, driven by factors like increased concerns about energy consumption and its impact on the environment, technological advancements, and a growing construction sector. Tax credits and rebates for energy-efficient HVAC systems are also playing a role in its growth.
In Genesee County, companies manufacture a wide range of HVAC equipment, including air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, and ductwork, catering to different needs and applications. Several companies have expanded or are expanding their manufacturing operations in Genesee County to meet the growing demand for HVAC equipment. This spring alone, two companies announced plans to either purchase a new building in Genesee County or expand their existing operations to meet customer demand, creating 150 new jobs and nearly $7.8 million in capital investment.
One of those companies is Fluid Cooling Systems, which was founded in 2011 and serves a variety of industries including automotive, data centers, crypto miners, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, and power, and is experiencing extraordinary growth.
The company – which was recently recognized as No. 54 on Inc.’s 2025 list of the fastest-growing companies in the Midwest and No. 3 in Michigan – is expected to invest more than $2.5 million in an expansion project that will more than double its workforce. The efforts are expected to create 82 new jobs with starting wages of $22 per hour.
“Our growth last year came primarily from cooling systems for new facilities needed to handle the automotive EV market,” said Bob Antaya, president. “Companies can’t run their processes without cooling; it’s as important as electricity.”
Headquartered in North Carolina, Custom Air Handling Solutions purchased a 50,000-square-foot facility in Burton to meet increased customer needs. The expansion is anticipated to generate $5,275,000 in capital investment and create at least 68 new jobs with starting wages of $25 per hour.
Like Fluid Cooling Systems, Custom Air Handling Solutions was considering a southern state to expand operations. But Michigan’s central location – Genesee County in particular – and a dedicated workforce made it the right choice to grow their footprint.
“We are excited to be in Burton, and we have already found great local talent, vendors, and support,” said Jason Kinney, general manager. “We are looking forward to years of growth and connection to this community.”
For many, Genesee County’s experienced workforce often plays a major role in the decision to locate in mid-Michigan.
In nearby Grand Blanc, for example, Kais-AIR opened its doors in 2020 to custom build HVAC equipment for Kaiser Enterprise, the largest sheet metal fabricator in North America. It’s since become a leader in the design, engineering, fabrication, installation, and service of modular air-handling equipment, data centers, healthcare facilities, and more.
These modular units are fabricated at their Genesee County plant and rebuilt at any site in the world.
Today, the company relies on its highly trained, 180-person workforce to build modular data centers and industrial equipment.
“Our growth can be attributed in large part to our talented tradespeople and a full complement of engineering, finance, project management, and sales people who work hard each and every day,” Huff said.
As HVAC opportunities continue to grow, local education partners have already started pitching in to provide the required knowledge and skills of the future workforce.
Mott Community College has offered an associate degree program in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technology for decades. As technology advances, Mott works with local employers to ensure its training keeps pace with their needs.
Jeff Brandes, who coordinates the Mott program, said he’s seeing a growing interest in the field. “We’re also seeing a lot more young people right out of high school who are interested in HVAC careers,” he said. “I think a lot of it comes from families and high school counselors understanding better that the trades are a great place for smart kids interested in making a good living.”
Mott Community College also works directly with local companies. Miller Industries – founded in Fenton Township in 2014 – has multiple programs to help employees get the training they need, including structural steel and electrical trade programs with the community college. Miller Industries pays for tuition, then provides on-the-job training to employees.
Good training is paramount.
“Today’s HVAC workers require a skillset that’s quite varied and different from what you might traditionally think of,” Brandes said. “Mott is ready to help its students, area employers, and the community succeed in whatever way we can.”
The Genesee Career Institute – a career and technical center for all 21 public school districts in Genesee County – is also committed to providing pertinent hands-on training for area high schoolers.
Recognizing the growing demand for skilled HVAC workers, the Genesee Career Institute (GCI) began partnering with Mott Community College in 2023 to create a new HVAC certification program for 11th- and 12th-grade students in Genesee County, according to Diana Allard, executive director of Career and Technical Education at the Genesee Intermediate School District.
Students who successfully complete the program earn up to 18 college credits at no cost to them. So far, 72 high school students have enrolled in the GCI/Mott program including Alex Ferrigan, who graduated this spring from Swartz Creek High School.
Ferrigan was in the first group taking part in the new GCI/Mott HVAC program. “The classes definitely teach you a lot about what you’re getting into,” said Ferrigan, age 18. “I learned quite a bit and the teachers were also nice.”
Ferrigan is no stranger to the world of HVAC; his father is the longtime owner of Ferrigan Heating and Cooling in Swartz Creek. But the classes at Mott did help him decide to pursue a career in HVAC controls, or the systems that manage and automate heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning equipment.
“My plan is to finish my associate degree in HVAC at Mott and then transfer to Ferris State, which is one of only two schools in the country offering a bachelor’s degree in heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration,” Ferrigan said. “I really feel like HVAC is going to be a great career for me.”
Antaya agreed.
“There’s room for a lot more people to enter this industry,” Antaya said. “Trust me: You’ll never be unemployed.”