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
sebastian.hale@lowes.com
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lowes-foundation-awards-over-6-million-in-gable-grants-to-innovative-community-based-nonprofits-to-shore-up-americas-skilled-trades-workforce-302087284.html
SOURCE Lowe’s Foundation