The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) introduced the R-TRADE Supporters program, offering organizations a new opportunity to support workforce development for refrigeration technicians across the United States.
The initiative is part of NASRC’s broader R-TRADE program, which addresses the nationwide shortage of trained refrigeration technicians. R-TRADE provides accessible, hands-on training and career development resources to help technicians navigate the evolving refrigeration industry.
Through the R-TRADE Supporters program, organizations can make tax-deductible contributions starting at $5,000 per year to fund technician recruitment, training, and retention. These funds support free, in-person training sessions led by industry experts and resources such as school career fairs and faculty training.
In return, supporters receive promotional opportunities, recognition, and direct engagement with technicians at NASRC training events.
“Technicians are the backbone of the commercial refrigeration industry, but they need our support if we want a sustainable technician workforce,” said Danielle Wright, NASRC Executive Director.
“Without our Supporters, these training opportunities simply wouldn’t be available to the technicians who need them most,” added Morgan Vanzo, NASRC Senior Director.
R-TRADE Supporters will join existing Founding Partners Walmart, Amazon, Costco, Kroger and Albertsons, who provided initial funding to launch the program in 2024.
