Lowe's Foundation Awards Over $6 Million in Gable Grants to Innovative Community-Based Nonprofits to Shore Up America's Skilled Trades Workforce

Foundation plans to recruit, train and prepare 50,000 job-ready tradespeople

MOORESVILLE, N.C., March 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lowe's Foundation has selected 10 community-based nonprofits as Gable Grants recipients to enhance their innovative skilled trades training programs. These nonprofits expand the foundation's roster of grant recipients to 24 organizations offering inclusive and scalable training programs in 25 states nationwide.

"Skilled trades built our country. But the rate we're on, by 2050, there won't be enough electricians to keep the lights on," said LaToya Faustin, executive director of She Built This City, one of two Gable Grants recipients in Charlotte. "For many people, these careers represent a change in the direction of their lives because they're empowered to say, 'I can do this.'"

The grants are the latest investment in the Lowe's Foundation's five-year, $50 million commitment to support the training of 50,000 people for skilled trades careers. Through these grants, students will strengthen their skills across carpentry and construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and appliance repair.

"The skilled trades industry offers fulfilling and lucrative opportunities that are in high demand, with over half a million additional tradespeople needed this year in construction alone," said Janice Dupré, Lowe's executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe's Foundation. "These community-based nonprofits have proven their ability to recruit and train a high volume and high quality of tradespeople for America's workforce. They are providing an essential service because they are launching careers, not just jobs."

The Lowe's Foundation Gable Grants for community-based nonprofits range from $260,000 to $1 million and include:    

• She Built This City (Charlotte) will use the grant to grow its training, hiring and community service model with five new locations across North Carolina's Piedmont region. The nonprofit aims to dismantle barriers for women and marginalized communities in skilled trades and will also offer new curriculum and certifications, from aging-in-place to drone surveying.
  
  
• Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont (Charlotte) will scale its Construction Skills Training program, that offers stability services, credentials, personalized coaching and access to employers to launch construction careers. The nonprofit served more than 9,000 people in 2023 in the Charlotte region.
  
  
• Alliance for Multicultural Community Services (Houston) will expand its HVAC Bridge Class and Occupational Training Course to eight cohorts over the next two years. The nonprofit serves immigrants, refugees and underserved populations. It provides HVAC certifications, financial coaching and literacy, fosters entrepreneurship and assists small businesses and startups. Instruction is offered for non-native English speakers.
  
  
• Centro Hispano (Provo, Utah) will use its grant to scale its electrician training program as the sole provider of workforce development training in Utah County. Centro Hispano's skilled trades programming is offered primarily in Spanish and helps place graduates with local employers.
  
  
• Chicago Women in Trades (Chicago) will increase its capacity to train and advance women in the construction, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and sheet metal trades. This will allow the nonprofit to better connect graduates with apprenticeship programs while offering job site visits, contractor meet-and-greets and job shadowing experience for its students.
  
  
• Florida Trade Academy (Tampa) will expand its Career and Reentry Education program to train incarcerated women and men who are pursuing skilled trades careers. The 10-week, hybrid program provides nationally recognized credentials and integrates hands-on learning with workplace readiness.
  
  
• The Master's Apprentice (Denver) will expand its tuition-free training program to recruit low-income students, offer stipends and OSHA-certified training to help them begin apprenticeships that will lead to a career as a journeyman. The Master's Apprentice also intends to acquire a larger facility to grow its capacity in the next two years.
  
  
• Accelerate Montana (Missoula) will use the Lowe's Foundation Gable Grant to expand its statewide "Job Site Ready" construction trades program by deploying a mobile training unit to increase access for trainees in rural and tribal communities. The nonprofit also plans to diversify its training offerings to include carpentry, sitework and foundations, and heavy equipment operation.
  
  
• Positive Workforce (New York City) will double the number of individuals it serves for training, industry recognized credentialing and job placement services. Based in Manhattan, the organization's mission is to help members of the local community obtain entry-level and journeyman positions in the construction industry by working with major developers and contractors.
  
  
• West Virginia Women Work (Charleston) will implement a Step Up for Women program to offer a multifaceted approach to career placement. The organization will also shore up its equipment and facilities as it empowers women to explore and secure employment in construction and manufacturing across the state.

Eligible community and technical colleges that offer skilled trades training can submit Lowe's Foundation Gable Grant applications until March 31 at Lowes.com/Foundation. The next grant application cycle for community-based nonprofits is August 1-31, 2024.

About the Lowe's Foundation
The Lowe's Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) organization founded by Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW), is helping develop a community of skilled tradespeople to build and revitalize our homes, neighborhoods and infrastructure for the future. From 2023 through 2027, the Lowe's Foundation is investing $50 million to help prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers through grants to community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofit organizations and national nonprofit partners with a strong local presence. To learn more about the Lowe's Foundation, visit Lowes.com/Foundation and follow on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Media Contact 
Sebastian Hale
Lowe's Foundation
[email protected]

SOURCE Lowe's Foundation