Middleton Heat & Air donates $50,000 to Saline County Career Technical Campus, dedicates Chuck Middleton HVAC Center
Middleton Heat & Air has donated $50,000 to the Saline County Career Technical Campus to support its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning program as the family-owned company celebrates 50 years in business.
The milestone gift was announced Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, during a ceremony that officially dedicated the campus facility as the Chuck Middleton HVAC Training Center in honor of the company’s late founder. Read more below.
The campus, operated in Benton by Arkansas State University Three Rivers, provides high school students across Saline County with access to career and technical education. The HVAC-R program prepares students in industrial safety, electrical fundamentals, and cooling and heating mechanics, providing opportunities to graduate with industry-recognized credentials.
The Chuck Middleton HVAC Training Center represents the first named educational space at the Saline County Career Technical Campus.
Chuck Middleton was featured in a video prior to the announcements.
Middleton Heat & Air was founded in 1976 when Chuck and Anita Middleton launched the business from a carport off Boone Road in Bryant. Speaking at Thursday’s ceremony, Chuck’s son, Larry Middleton, recounted the company’s humble beginnings, including cutting ductwork on a backyard ping-pong table and selling his own car as a teenager to help finance startup equipment.
“Chuck believed in Saline County and in giving people the opportunity to build a future through hard work and a skilled trade,” said Blake Middleton, who now helps lead the company into its next chapter alongside three generations of family members.
“As we celebrate 50 years, this donation is a way to carry his belief forward. We want students to see a future for themselves in this industry and have access to the training that helps them get started.”
Over the past half-century, the business—widely recognized for its long-running tagline, “I’ll take care of that”—has grown into one of Arkansas’ largest trade employers. The company currently employs 250 to 300 workers, operates a fleet of 200 service vehicles, serviced roughly 20,000 homes last year, and handles major commercial installations, including work on the Arkansas State Capitol and Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Larry Middleton made the announcement along with his son Blake Middleton.
Saline County Judge Matt Brumley spoke about the impact of the Career Technical Center on the lives of his twin sons.
Saline County Judge Matt Brumley, who serves as chairman of the campus operating board, praised the Middleton family’s ongoing civic commitment, noting that the career center had a direct impact on his own household.
“This campus has made a difference in my own family. Both of my children were part of its first class, and it helped them gain confidence in the career paths they chose,” Brumley said. “Chuck Middleton believed in this county and helped bring people together around its future. This gift carries that legacy forward by helping students prepare for careers that can support them and their families.”
Shane Broadway, Chancellor for Arkansas State University Three Rivers played host and emcee at the luncheon.
Shane Broadway, who emceed the event, highlighted the strong instructional partnership between Middleton technicians and campus instructor Jim Dyer, who spearheaded hands-on training initiatives for high school students as well as incumbent worker training.
Community leaders and elected representatives attended the dedication ceremony, including Benton Mayor Tom Farmer, Bryant Mayor Chris Treat, Harmony Grove Superintendent Heath Bennett, Bryant School District representative Todd Sellers, Austin Coleman from U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton’s office, and Hunter Sadler from U.S. Rep. French Hill’s office.
The donation comes amid a sustained surge in workforce demand for mechanical trades across the state and nation. According to state projections reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, Arkansas is projected to average approximately 520 annual job openings for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers through 2034.
Data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center also indicates growing interest in technical pathways, showing that undergraduate certificate program enrollment rose 10.2 percent nationally in spring 2026, outpacing traditional two-year and four-year degree programs.
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