Building Careers, One Block at a Time: Escambia County Celebrates HVAC Workforce Development Graduates
Escambia County recently celebrated a milestone in workforce development as 10 young adults graduated from the Block-By-Block Workforce Development Program’s HVAC cohort. The graduation ceremony, held on June 10 at the Brownsville Community Center, marked the beginning of promising careers in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration for these individuals.
- Why this matters: The Block-By-Block Program fulfills Escambia County’s commitment to strengthening underserved communities through targeted workforce development. As District 3 Commissioner Lumon May explained during the ceremony, “I believe in order to save a community, you go house-by-house, block-by-block, community-by-community.” This philosophy drives the program’s mission to provide entry-level training opportunities specifically designed for young adults in areas that need it most.
Training for Real-World Success
The eight-week intensive program, delivered through Pensacola State College, combines classroom instruction with hands-on practical experience in construction trades, including carpentry, electrical work, HVAC-R, masonry, plumbing, and welding. The curriculum follows NCCER standards, ensuring graduates earn industry-recognized certifications that employers actively seek.
Beyond technical skills, participants complete Florida Ready to Work Soft Skills Training through CareerSource Escarosa, preparing them for workplace success with communication, teamwork, and professional development capabilities. Many graduates also earned OSHA 10 certification, demonstrating their commitment to safety standards.
The NCCER certification these graduates earned provides direct pathways into apprenticeships, union programs, and full-time employment in the growing construction sector. Program Coordinator Joe Glover explained, “Strong communities hinge upon youth having the skills they need to secure meaningful, well-paid employment.
The ten HVAC cohort graduates—Xavier Brooks, Darius Brown, Cameron Chisholm, Michael Crosby, Quentin Gholston, Kanye Jones, Brian Lisonbee, DeAndre Mason, Daniel Ramey, and Austin Swails—now possess the credentials and confidence to pursue careers in a field experiencing significant demand.
Dig Deeper
The Block-by-Block Project began as a partnership between Commissioner May and AMI Kids in March 2022 to renovate the county-owned Brownsville House at 3210 W Gonzalez St. With the help from Duggins Services and AMI Kids volunteers, youth, ages 16-24, completed flooring, carpentry, painting, HVAC installation and fencing improvements to the home.
At the time, Commissioner May said, “Across the country, there is a shortage of skilled labor.The goal is we can’t wait on the school system. We can’t wait on anyone else to teach skills to our children. So we’re just going to try to do it right here in Brownsville.”
The commissioner expanded that project into the Block-by-Block Program. He hosted Block-by-Block Youth Construction Symposium in November 2023 to recruit Escambia County youth ages 16-24. No experience wasn’t necessary, and applicants weren’t required to have a high school diploma or a GED. However, applicants had to pass a drug test and remain drug-free.
