At The International Surface Event in Las Vegas, Deb DeGraaf, president and owner of DeGraaf Interiors in Michigan, announced that the company is launching a pilot program to train installers in partnership with the Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF). 

The course fee is $5,000 and DeGraaf said the applicants can apply for a $2,500 scholarship from FCEF to help offset it. She also said students who successfully complete the program and who work with the DeGraaf installation team can potentially have the remainder of the fee forgiven.  

DeGraaf said she hopes the program will encourage other flooring retailers to launch training programs in their markets.