COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: HEAR ABOUT A NEW TERMINAL AND OTHER MAJOR UPGRADES COMING TO PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

AND WE'LL LEARN WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SWITCH FROM FRY CITY-RUN VOTES AND HEAR ABOUT THE INDUSTRY THAT KEEPS YOU COOL.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M CHRISTINA ESTES IN FOR TED SIMONS.

IN WHAT IS BEING CALLED A BIG WIN FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, AN APPEALS COURT HAS INDEFINITELY HALTED THE GEORGIA ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE AGAINST HIM AND OTHERS.

THAT, AS THE COURT REVIEWS A LOWER COURT RULING ALLOWING FULTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY FANI WILLIS TO REMAIN ON THE CASE.

THE TRUMP TEAM HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET HER DISQUALIFIED BECAUSE OF A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP SHE HAD WITH THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR SHE HIRED TO HANDLE THE CASE.

THE DELAY MAKES IT ALMOST CERTAIN THAT THIS TRIAL WILL NOT BE HELD BEFORE THE ELECTION.

THE TRIAL OF HUNTER BIDEN, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON, CONTINUED TODAY.

HUNTER BIDEN’S EX-WIFE AND A FORMER GIRLFRIEND WERE CALLED TO TESTIFY IN HIS FEDERAL GUN TRIAL.

HE IS CHARGED WITH LYING ABOUT ILLEGAL DRUG USE WHILE BUYING A GUN AND ALSO CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY POSSESSING A GUN BECAUSE OF DRUG USE.

ALSO TODAY, AN FBI AGENT WAS CROSS-EXAMINED BY THE DEFENSE AND THE MAN WHO SOLD BIDEN THE GUN TESTIFIED.

A GROUP HOME PROVIDER FOR FOSTER KIDS WITH TIES TO GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS IS GETTING MORE BUSINESS AND MONEY FROM THE STATE AS OTHER GROUP HOMES ARE BEING CUT LOOSE OR NOT GETTING INCREASES.

SUNSHINE RESIDENTIAL HOMES DONATED 400-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HOBBS AND OTHER DEMOCRATS' CAMPAIGNS, AND IS GETTING A 60- PERCENT INCREASE IN DAILY FEES TO CARE FOR CHILDREN.... THAT ADDS UP.

TO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

IT'S HAPPENING WHILE THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY CUT LOOSE 16 GROUP HOME PROVIDERS AND IS NOT GIVING INCREASES TO THE OTHER REMAINING GROUP HOMES.

THE DEPARTMENT'S GOAL IS TO GET CHILDREN OUT OF GROUP HOMES AND INTO FAMILY SETTINGS.

PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT KEEPS GROWING.

IT'S LATEST EXPANSION PLANS CALLS FOR A NEW TERMINAL ON THE WEST SIDE.

JOINING US IN THE STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT THESE CHANGES IS JAY C. DEWITT, THE ASSISTANT AVIATION DIRECTOR AND CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR SKY HARBOR THANKS FOR COMING THIS.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> I KNOW WE'RE A FEW YEARS OUT BEFORE WE SEE CONSTRUCTION.

LET'S START WITH THE LOCATION.

WE KNOW ROUGHLY WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'LL BE WHERE TERMINALS 1 AND TERMINAL 2 USED TO BE.

>> AND CONSTRUCTION IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER 2030.

SO TALK ABOUT, ONE, WHY SO FAR OUT IN ADVANCE.

WHY DID YOU NEED SO MANY YEARS.

AND SORT OF WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS TO HAVING THAT TIME?

>> THIS IS A BIG PROJECT AND BIG PROJECTS REQUIRE A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE THAT ALLOW US TO REALLY ASSESS WHAT THE REAL IMPACTS ARE.

AND THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT OF 1969 REQUIRES THE FAA TO GO THROUGH WHAT'S CALLED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY THAT WILL LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL, THE SOCIAL AND THE OTHER CULTURAL, HISTORICAL ASSETS THAT COULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS PROJECT.

AND SO THEY'LL TAKE A REAL IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THAT, AND THEN A LOT OF -- A CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS TAKE TIME.

>> AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, I THINK I HEARD IT'S ROUGHLY FIVE YEARS IT TAKES FOR THE FEDS TO DO THAT ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THE BIGGER THE PROJECT, THE MORE TIME IT TYPICALLY TAKES.

>> AND WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS TO THAT, HOW DOES THAT HELP IN TERMS OF PLANNING OR MAYBE HURT.

>> YEAH, IN TERMS OF HOW IT HELPS, I THINK A BIG PROJECT LIKE THIS DESERVES A FULL INVESTIGATING.

AND SO THAT THE -- WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THIS PROJECT IS AND EVERYTHING GOING ALONG WITH IT.

THERE'S REALLY NO TURNING BACK AFTER WE BUILD THE THING.

>> AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE, THE DESIGN PROCESS.

IS IT ROUGHLY 40 TO 60 GATES, OR DO YOU KNOW AT THIS POINT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IT WILL BE A SUBSTANTIAL TERMINAL AND LOOK A LOT LIKE TERMINAL 4.

IT'LL BE BUILT IN PHASES.

AND SO LIKE TERMINAL 4 IT WILL BE MODULAR.

TERMINAL 4 OPENED IN 1990.

JUST GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE THE LAST TERMINAL THAT WE EVER BUILT, AND THOUGHT THE SAME THING IN 1979 79 WITH TERMINAL 3, AND IN 1962 -- EACH TERMINAL YOU THINK THIS WILL BE THE BIGGEST AND THE BEST AND WE'LL NEVER BUILD ANOTHER ONE.

OUR EXPERIENCE IS BY PHASING THESE THINGS IN, THE CONCOURSE TIME AND GATES ARE NEEDED AND THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS THING IN.

>> IS THE THINKING FOR THE NEW TERMINAL TO HAVE SPECIFIC AREAS FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS OR CUSTOMS AREA OR HOW WILL THAT WORK?

>> YES.

WE'VE SEEN INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND DEMAND FOR INTERNATIONAL SEATS COMING OUT OF PHOENIX NON-STOP FLIGHTS.

WE JUST HAD NEW FLIGHTS TO FRANCE JUST THIS LAST MONTH, THAT THESE THINGS ARE REALLY STARTING TO RAMP UP UP AND RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT ONE CONCOURSE DEDICATED TO INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC, WHICH IS ABOUT 5% OF OUR TRAFFIC EACH YEAR.

SO THAT WILL BE A BIG PART OF THIS NEW WEST TERMINAL.

>> WE HAVE THREE NON-STOPS THAT GO TO PARIS, LONDON AND FRANKFURT, AND COUNTLESS, IT SEEMS LIKE, TO CANADA AND MEXICO.

AND HOW MANY DOMESTIC DO WE HAVE.

>> MORE THAN 100, AND I COULDN'T GIVE YOU THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER.

>> AND A LOT OF THAT TRAFFIC IS COMING THROUGH TERM TERMINAL 3 AND 4 RIGHT NOW.

TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THOSE TERMINALS RIGHT NOW.

>> TERMINAL 3 INCREASED TRAFFIC BY ABOUT 40% BEFORE THE -- SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY BUSY.

WE'RE ADDING A CONCOURSE ON TO THAT TERMINAL AS WE SPEAK, AND SO IT'LL BE A NEW CONCOURSE ON THE NORTH SIDE, TO LAND ABOUT SIX GATES.

WE'RE MAKING SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO BOTH TERMINAL 3 AND 4 TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $400 MILLION, THAT WILL ADD CAPACITY AND ADD PROCESSING CAPACITY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE THOSE TERMINALS LAST UNTIL WE CAN GET THAT NEW WESTERN ONE ON BOARD.

>> THE NEW CONCOURSE AT TERMINAL 3 CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR TO BEGIN?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'RE WRAPPING UP DESIGN, ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE DESIGN NOW, AND SO BY NEXT YEAR WE'LL START TO SEE HEAVY EQUIPMENT THERE ON THE SITE.

>> IN ADDITION TO GATES AND HAVING FOOD AND RETAIL, THAT NEW CONCOURSE AT TERMINAL 3 IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SORT OF A LOWER LEVEL TO SUPPORT AIRPORT OPERATIONS?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

YOU'VE GOT WHAT WE CALL UNDER THE WING SERVICES THAT YOU REQUIRE FOR FUELING, FOR SOME MINOR KIND OF MAINTENANCE, AND SUCH IS THE SAME AS YOU CAN GO OVER TO TERMINAL 4 AND ON ALL OF OUR TERM KNEE 3 GATES TOO.

>> UNDER THE WING.

I'M GOING TO USE THAT IMPRESSIVE PHRASE.

WHAT ABOUT THE WALKWAY.

IS THAT BEING BUILT BETWEEN 3 AND 4.

>> ABSOLUTELY BEING DESIGNED AND PLANNED FOR.

THAT IS LONG OVERDUE.

TODAY IF YOU'VE GOT A CONNECTING FLIGHT ON AMERICAN, THEY'VE GOT FLIGHTS THAT CONNECT THROUGH TO ALASKA IN TERMINAL 3.

YOU HAVE TO COME OUT OF SECURITY, GET ON A SKY TRAIN OVER TO TERMINAL 3, BACK TO SECURITY AND GET YOUR FLIGHT.

THAT LEADS TO SOME PRETTY LONG CONNECT FLIGHTS THAT THE AIRLINES DON'T APPRECIATE.

SO THIS ALLOWS SOMEBODY TO TAKE -- TO GET THAT CONNECTING FLIGHT.

WHAT IT WILL ALSO DO IS MAKE IT A LOT MORE FLEXIBLE.

WE'LL HAVE MORE FLEXIBLE TERMINALS THAT IF A FLIGHT THAT CAME IN ON TERMINAL 3, IF TERMINAL 3 WAS ABSOLUTELY FULL AT 6:00 IN THE EVENING THAT THEY COULD BUMP ON TO A GATED TERMINAL 4 AND GO BACK OVER TO TERMINAL 3 TO PICK UP THEIR BAGS TO TAKE THE CAR.

>> WHAT'S THE TIMETABLE FOR THAT POST SECURITY WALKWAY BETWEEN TERMINAL 3 AND 4?

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 20 WHEN IT.

>> OKAY.

JAY DEWITT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN.

ALWAYS SOMETHING HAPPENING AT SKY HARBOR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> INSTEAD OF RELYING ON A PRIVATE COMPANY, THE CITY OF SCOTTSDALE WILL SOON LAUNCH ITS OWN AMBULANCE SERVICE.

TO FIND OUT WHY AND PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE PROGRAM IS TOM SHANNON, FIRE CHEIF FOR THE CITY OF SCOTTSDALE.

THANKS FOR COMING IN.

>> GLAD I'M HERE.

BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO RUN THINGS TELL ME HOW THINGS RUN RIGHT NOW.

>> WELL, THROUGHOUT ARIZONA BUT CERTAINLY IN THE CENTRAL PART OF ARIZONA WE FLIGHT A FIRE-BASED EMS SYSTEM.

THAT MEANS WHEN 911 IS CALLED, A FIRE TRUCK, USUALLY COMES TO YOUR HOME TO START RENDERING AID FIRST.

THEN IF YOU'RE ILLNESS OR INJURY REQUIRES TRANSPORT TO A HOSPITAL, SOMETIMES THAT AGENCY HAS THEIR OWN AMBULANCE CAPABILITY AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T IN WHICH CASE THEY WOULD CALL FOR A THIRD SERVICE, A PRIVATE SECTOR VENDOR TO COME PROVIDE THAT BE ASSISTANCE.

AND SO REALLY IN SCOTTSDALE, WE'RE JUST RETURNING BACK TO THE FUTURE.

THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS PRIOR TO 2005, AND IT'S REALLY A NECESSARY CHANGE IN SCOTTSDALE.

>> WHY DO YOU SAY IT'S A NECESSARY CHANGE?

>> SO CONTINUITY OF SCARE KEY.

YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TELEPHONE GAME, IF YOU WILL.

IF WE PASS A PATIENT BETWEEN A NUMBER OF HANDS, THERE CAN A DEGRADATION OF CLINICAL -- IN CLINICAL OUTCOMES.

AND CERTAINLY WE MITIGATE THAT THROUGH TRAINING AND GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH EVERYBODY THAT WE WORK WITH.

BUT REALLY IN SCOTTSDALE, WE REALLY HAVE COMMITTED TO A DOOR TO DOOR TRANSFER OF PATIENT CARE, MEANING THEY'LL REENCOUNTER YOU AT YOUR RESIDENCE OR AT YOUR BUSINESS OR IN THE STREET.

WE ARE GOING TO BE THE LAST PEOPLE THAT TOUCH YOU BEFORE A PHYSICIAN OR NURSE DOES AT THE HOSPITAL.

THAT WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE.

SOMETIMES THERE'D BE A TRANSFER WITH AN INTERMEDIARY AND YOU CAN HAVE CLINICAL DEGRADATION THERE.

>> SO SOME PEOPLE HAVE ARGUED WHEN IT COMES TO SOME SERVICES THAT CITIES PROVIDE THAT IT IS MORE EFFICIENT TO OUTSOURCE, TO HAVE PRIVATE COMPANIES DO IT.

SOMEBODY IN SCOTTSDALE MUST HAVE THOUGHT IT WORKED BETTER THAT WAY FOR THE CITY TO HAVE GONNA ROUTE.

WHAT HAS CHANGED, AND WHAT MAKES YOU THINK -- >> YEAH.

IT'S NOT ENTIRELY A FINANCIAL CONVERSATION EXCLUSIVELY.

SO THANKFULLY OUR POLICYMAKERS SEE US AS A SERVICE DELIVERY ISSUE.

AND THAT CONTINUITY OF CARE, THE DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE IS REALLY ESSENTIAL.

IT'S NOT THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN PROVIDE SERVICES AT A LESSER CAPACITY.

BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE TO MEET THE SAME STANDARD BY THE STATE.

BUT HERE'S THE KEY DIFFERENCE.

THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS EMPLOYEES THAT ARE USUALLY TRANSIENT.

THERE ARE -- THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY SOMEWHERE, TO THE HEALTHCARE FIELD OR TO THE FIRE SERVICE OR IN SOME OTHER FASHION, THEY'RE TEMPORARY IN THAT LOCATION.

SO THE TENURE IN THEIR GRADE, IN THEIR ABILITY OF SKILL AND GOB TITLE, IF YOU WILL, IS USUALLY MUCH LESS THAN THOSE FOLKS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

SO WHAT YOU GET IS EXPERIENCED, HIGH QUALITY, WELL-TRAINED FOLKS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

NOW, THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE MIGHT BE SAYING THAT'S JUST A LINE YOU'RE GIVING US.

BUT REALLY IT'S TRUE.

THE TENURE IN THE FIRE SERVICE IS MUCH MORE RELIABLE IN TERMS OF CLINICAL OUTCOMES AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE PATIENT.

>> SO LAST YEAR SCOTTSDALE RESPONDED TO 29,000 MEDICAL CALLS, AND OF THOSE 18,000 REQUIRED AMBULANCES.

>> RIGHT.

>> HOW WILL YOU -- YOU'RE NOT GONNA GONNA BE ABLE TO ALL OF A SUDDEN NEXT YEAR START HANDLING 18,000 CALLS.

TALK ABOUT HOW WILL YOU PHASE THIS IN.

>> WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNER IN MARICOPA AMBULANCE, AND WE INTEND TO ESSENTIALLY SPLIT THE CITY IN THIRDS.

AND WE WILL PHASE IN OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS OR BETTER A SCOTTSDALE UNIT, AND EACH YEAR WE'LL ADD A UNIT, AND ULTIMATELY WE'LL HAVE 9 WORKING AMBULANCES WITH A COUPLE EXTRA FOR PEAK TIME SERVICES, AND MARICOPA -- AT THE END OF THAT THIRD PHASE, WE'LL THEN RETURN TO WHAT REALLY IS THEIR BEST WORK, AND THAT IS THAT INTER-FACILITY TRANSFER.

>> HOW LONG WILL THE APPROACH TAKE?

HOW LONG FROM -- I THINK JANUARY IS WHEN YOU WOULD START, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> SO WE'VE COMMITTED TO THE STATE WE CAN DO THIS IN THREE PHASES.

REALLY EVERYTHING IS DEPENDENT ON SUPPLY CHAIN RIGHT NOW.

IT TAKES ABOUT 14 TO 16 MONTHS TO BUILD AND RECEIVE AN AMBULANCE.

AND SO WE'RE HOPING FOR AT LEAST THAT SORT OF A TIMELINE.

SO IF WE RUN OUR FIRST PATIENT TRANSFER IN DECEMBER, WE'RE HOPING THAT A YEAR AND A HALF FROM THAT DECEMBER, SO DECEMBER 24, WE WOULD START PHASE II, AND THEN WE WOULD START PHASE 3 AFTER THAT.

BUT IT'S REALLY A SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE POST PANDEMIC.

MATERIALS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET AHOLD OF, AND THAT IMPACTS THE ABILITY OF ACQUIRING RESOURCES.

>> YOU MENTIONED 9 AMBULANCES.

HOW MANY PERSONNEL WILL BE NEED TO HIRE?

>> SO AT BUILD-OUT, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 80 PERSONNEL IN TERMS OF EMTs AND PARAMEDICS.

WE WILL HAVE SOME CIVILIAN STAFF THAT WILL HELP US WITH THINGS LIKE BILLING, THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS BUSINESS, AS WELL AS OUR MEDICAL DIRECTION AND TRAINING.

AND SO ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, WE'RE GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 80 AND 100.

>> WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK ARE YOU GETTING FROM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT?

>> THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE EXCITED.

THERE IS ADDED BENEFIT THAT THESE WILL BE SWORN FIREFIGHTERS.

SO THINK OF A RESCUE ARRIVING ON THE SCENE OF AN INCIDENT THAT WOULD NORMALLY HAVE RECEIVED THE FIRE TRUCK COMING TO IT.

THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT CALL BY THEMSELVES, AND THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS AN EFFICIENCY.

SO THE WORK FORCE IS EXCITED ABOUT IT.

WE, AS I SAID WE WERE IN THIS BUSINESS PRIOR TO 2005, AND REALLY THE WORKFORCE SEES THIS AS JUST RETURNING BACK TO NORMAL BUSINESS.

>> AND WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT OR LOOKING FORWARD WITH THIS SYSTEM?

>> WELL, IT'S THE BEST SERVICE WE CAN PROVIDE FOR THE CITIZEN.

THERE'S NO QUESTION.

THERE'S ALL SORTS OF SCIENCE BEHIND, LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF PASTURE THAT'S A PERSON EXPERIENCING IN A HOSPITAL, SO THAT DOOR DOOR EXPERIENCE COUPLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE KNOW THAT OUR FOLKS ARE TRAINED TO A CERTAIN STANDARD AND THEY'RE INSIDE THE SYSTEM ALREADY IN TERMS OF MEDICAL UPGRADE THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE, THAT PATIENT WILL RECEIVE CONTINUOUS QUALITY CARE FROM DOOR TO DOOR.

>> SCOTTSDALE FIRE CHIEF, TOM SHANNON.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING IN AND EXPLAINING IT AN UNDERSTANDABLE WAY.

YOU WERE AWESOME, THANK YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

>> YOU BET.

♪ AS THE LABOR MARKET EXPANDS, THE HVAC INDUSTRY, WHICH COVERS HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING MECHANICS AND INSTALLERS, IS EXPERIENCING ABOVE AVERAGE GROWTH.

THE U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS ESTIMATES THERE WILL BE ABOUT 40,000 HVAC JOB OPENINGS EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT DECADE.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THIS FIELD IS KRISTIN GUBSER, VP WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AT GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

TLINGS THANKS FOR COMING IN.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO WE OFTEN HEAR WE NEED MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED IN SKILLED TRADES, AND SKILLED TRADES, OF COURSE, INVOLVE HVAC.

I MENTIONED HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING.

WHAT ELSE DOES HVAC MEAN?

>> HEATING, VENTILATION, REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONING.

IT COVERS THE GAMUT FROM HOME AC TO BIG COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, BIG MANUFACTURING PLANTS, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, REALLY COVERS THE GAMUT.

>> SO ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS THERE WERE 140,000 H V.A.

BUSINESSES IN THE U.S. LAST YEAR.

THOSE ARE BUSINESSES, I MEAN, I THINK ABOUT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND NONPROFITS, AND YOU THINK OF HOSPITALS AND ALL OF THOSE, I MEAN, HVAC IS REALLY IN DEMAND EVERYWHERE.

THERE'S NOT A PLACE THAT'S NOT TOUCHED BY IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HVAC IS REALLY IN DEMAND EVERYWHERE, AND IT'S JUST ONE OF SEVERAL CONSTRUCTION TRADES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO EVERY INDUSTRY AND EVERY HOMEOWNER IN ARIZONA.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRAINING THE WORKFORCE IN HVAC, WE REALLY ALSO ARE TALKING ABOUT TRAINING THE WORKFORCE IN ALL OF THE OTHER CONSTRUCTION TRADES, ELECTRICIANS, CARPENTERS, MASONS, THAT REALLY COVER THE GAMUT.

BUT HVAC IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT HERE IN THE DESERT, AND THE SUMMERS THAT WE HAVE IN ARIZONA.

SO THESE TECHNICIANS ARE HIGHLY TRAINED THROUGH THE GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE STARTING WAGE CAN BE OVER $60,000 A YEAR.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT GATEWAY'S PROGRAM, THE HVAC PROGRAM.

WHAT'S INVOLVED?

HOW DO I -- IF I WERE TO ENROLL, IS THIS LIKE OH MY GOSH, IT WILL TAKE YOU FIVE YEARS TO DO THIS, IS IT FIVE MONTHS, AM I GOING TO SKATE THROUGH AT HOME, HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM CAN BE COMPLETED AROUND A YEAR, AND WE DO HAVE AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE PROGRAM THAT IS MORE OF A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM.

WE DO HAVE A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH JOHNSON CONTROLS, AND JOHNSON CONTROLS DOES COMMERCIAL HVAC FOR A LOT OF LARGE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIES.

SO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH JOHNSON CONTROLS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY, MANY DECADES, AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY VALUABLE.

THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF VERY UP-TO-DATE TRAINING EQUIPMENT FOR OUR PROGRAM AND THEN ALSO PROVIDE A LOT OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ANY STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED.

>> SO A LOT OF HANDS-ON, IT SOUNDS LIKE.

I'M NOT JUST GONNA GO AND LOOK AT A BOOK AND THROWN TO THE WOLVES.

>> NO.

OUR FACILITY FACILITIES AT GATEWAY RUN FROM LARGE INDUSTRIAL CHILLERS ALL THE WAY TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU SEE RUNNING THROUGH THE ROOF OF YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER TO SPREAD THE AC FROM ROOM TO ROOM.

SO IT REALLY IS HANDS-ON FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND BASIC SKILLS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE REALLY HEAVY INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.

>> WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN -- YOU MENTIONED THERE'S A ONE-YEAR PROGRAM AS WELL AS AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE?

>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE IS IN OUR RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE SHORTER PROGRAM, IT IS SOLELY BASED ON THE SKILLS YOU NEED TO BE AN HVAC TECHNICIAN.

IN THE ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE PROGRAM, IT IS -- THAT TRAINING WITH THE HANDS-ON TRAIN SOMETHING COMPLEMENTED BY SOME OF YOUR MORE BASIC GENERAL ED CLASSES THAT ARE PART OF A COLLEGE DEGREE, THINGS LIKE ENGLISH 101, COMMUNICATION 101 AND SOME OF THOSE -- THE TRAINING THAT WRAPS AROUND THE SKILLS.

>> WHAT DO YOU FIND IN TERMS OF THE TYPES OF STUDENTS THAT YOU GET?

BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A JOB FOR EVERYBODY.

I THINK OH MY GOSH, ANYTIME YOU HAVE TO CALL SOMEBODY IN THE SUMMER TO FIX YOUR AC, YOUR HEART JUST BREAKS FOR THEM, RIGHT.

IT'S HOT AND SOMETIMES VERY CRAMPED SPACES.

>> IT IS, IT'S HARD WORK AND SOMETIMES CRAMPED SPACES BUT WE FIND THIS OUR STUDENTS REALLY LOVE THE PROFESSION.

IF YOU'RE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO REALLY LIKES WORKING WITH YOUR HANDS AND LIKES TO PROBLEM SOLVE, THIS IS A WONDERFUL CAREER.

>> AND NOT HAVE TO REPORT TO AN OFFICE EVERY DAY IS ALSO KIND OF A PERK.

>> YES.

YOUR LOCATION CAN DEFINITELY VARY.

>> WHAT ABOUT GRADUATION IN TERMS OF JOB HELP?

WHAT DO YOU FIND, WHAT DO YOU GUYS OFFER?

>> WE HAVE A CAREER CENTER AT OUR COLLEGE THAT HELPS STUDENTS FROM THE TIME THEY ENROLL AT GATEWAY THROUGHOUT THEIR JOURNEY, CONNECTING WITH THEM WE HAVE JOB WARDS.

STUDENTS CAN FIND WORK WHILE THEY ARE ALSO IN SCHOOL.

WE ALSO HAVE AN ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT SUPPORTS OUR PROGRAMS THROUGH CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT AND EQUIPMENT SUPPORT.

AND THOSE COMPANIES ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN HIRING OUR STUDENTS, AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SO ENGAGED WITH US.

THEY'RE REALLY -- AT THE END, READY TO PICK UP THE STUDENTS ONCE THEY COMPLETE THE TRAINING AND PUT THEM DIRECTLY INTO THE WORKFORCE.

>> AND AGAIN, THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS SAYS THE JOB OUTLOOK, 6% HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR HVAC JOBS.

OKAY.

KRISTIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN, GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, FOR SHARING YOUR PROGRAM.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M CHRISTINA ESTES IN FOR TED SIMONS.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.