Latest news with #GableGrants
Malaysian Reserve
18-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Lowe's Foundation Investment in Solving Skilled Trades Labor Shortage Grows to $43 Million
Third cohort of community and technical colleges grant recipients will launch and expand new training programs for thousands of aspiring tradespeople MOORESVILLE, N.C., July 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Lowe's Foundation today announced 12 new Gable Grants for community and technical colleges to help solve America's critical skilled trades worker shortage. The funding expands the foundation's nationwide network of Gable Grants recipients to 60 organizations, each delivering scalable pathways into high-demand trades careers. Through expanded training, grants to this cohort will help build the next generation of skilled tradespeople at a time when the industry needs it the most. According to the National Association of Homebuilders, the skilled labor gap drives a $10 billion annual economic loss in the housing industry. 'Collectively, we are writing a comeback story for the skilled trades industry,' said Janice Dupré, Lowe's executive vice president of human resources and chair of the Lowe's Foundation. 'Through our Gable Grants network, these schools join a community of innovators helping one another effectively recruit, train and employ the people America needs to revitalize our infrastructure.' Since launching the Gable Grants program in 2023, the foundation has invested $43 million across 28 states. The grants are part of a five-year, $50 million commitment to help community and technical colleges and nonprofits recruit, train and prepare 50,000 trades professionals across carpentry and construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and property maintenance. The new Lowe's Foundation Gable Grants support the following community and technical colleges: Blue Ridge Community College (Flat Rock, North Carolina) will support ongoing Hurricane Helene recovery efforts through expanded training for advanced manufacturing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and construction apprenticeships. The grant will help Blue Ridge hire certified instructors and offer tuition support to students from across Western North Carolina. Cape Fear Community College (Wilmington, North Carolina) will introduce plumbing, facility maintenance and core construction programs at two correctional facilities and an adult high school program. The college's curriculum features integrated virtual reality training along with industry recognized certifications to meet the needs of its growing employer network. Community College of Rhode Island (Warwick, Rhode Island) will expand its Electrical Apprenticeship and Ready to Build programs to address the growing demand for skilled trades professionals. The school will establish two state-of-the-art lab spaces to increase enrollment capacity and develop a credit-bearing academic pathway that integrates into a new construction management certificate and degree program. Florida State College at Jacksonville (Jacksonville, Florida) will strengthen communities and improve access for aspiring electricians, construction professionals and HVAC technicians through training at community sites. The grant will also support the recruitment of skilled instructors and fund educational materials, spaces and equipment, addressing workforce needs for large construction projects in Jacksonville, including the $8 billion downtown revitalization and $1.4 billion NFL stadium renovation. Los Angeles Community College District (Los Angeles) will enhance its skilled trades curriculum while expanding the capacity of its Construction, Maintenance and Utilities programs. In the aftermath of the 2025 Palisades and Eaton wildfires, the program will focus on fire recovery with disaster-specific training to prepare a workforce for major infrastructure projects. Germanna Community College (Fredericksburg, Virginia) will build and deploy mobile training units to rural communities, public schools and correctional facilities. Germanna Community College has trained over 3,500 students in 2025, the most among Virginia schools awarding skilled trades credentials. Ivy Tech Community College (Indianapolis) is receiving its second Gable Grant to launch a new Building and Property Maintenance Technician program and enhance its HVAC training. This grant will focus on dislocated workers and second-chance learners and will expand trades programs across the college system, which includes 19 campuses throughout Indiana. J.F. Ingram State Technical College (Deatsville, Alabama) exclusively serves Alabama's incarcerated population and individuals under supervised release. The Gable Grant will unlock access to electrical training through virtual reality simulation software and shop-based learning. The vocational training program supports reentry and long-term career pathways by equipping students with invaluable technical skills and expertise to meet industry workforce needs and gain a competitive advantage in the job market. Johnson College of Technology (Scranton, Pennsylvania) will expand its capacity and programming at two campuses through its HVAC, Electrical Construction Technology and carpentry and cabinetmaking labs. The school is the only career technical college in Northeastern Pennsylvania and partners with industry employers to prepare students for residential, commercial and industrial careers across the region. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Perkinston, Mississippi) is receiving its second Gable Grant to introduce electrical technology evening courses and transform its construction trades program. This will double the school's capacity to prepare electricians and support a Fast-Track Pathway that offers accelerated transfer credits, internships and apprenticeships to meet the construction sector's growing demands. Palm Beach State College (Lake Worth, Florida) is receiving its second Gable Grant to help expand its construction trades programs and add a simulation lab. The expansion will complement four mobile units and bring HVAC and electrical training to the school's Palm Beach Gardens campus as well as rural high schools in South Florida. Texas State Technical College (Waco, Texas) will equip a nearly 130,000 square-foot Construction Technology Center while offering tool stipends to eligible students. The school boasts an 87% job placement rate and offers associate degrees and certificates of completion, as well as short-term, noncredit training aligned with Texas' workforce needs. The next Gable Grant application cycle for community-based nonprofits opens from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31 and is by invitation only. To learn more about eligibility guidelines and skilled trades career benefits, visit About The Lowe's FoundationThe 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 2028, 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 and follow on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Media ContactsSebastian HaleLowe's Click here for a Spanish version of the press release
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Alabama Homebuilding Academy gets $500,000 grant
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A Huntsville non-profit focused on offering hands-on skills training for people looking to start a career in residential construction, recently got a big boost. The North Alabama Homebuilding Association (NAHA), is one of only 15 non-profits across the country, to be a recent recipient of a Lowe's Foundation Gables Grant. NAHA received a $500,000 grant. Alabama service member comes home and surprises his kids 'We're just absolutely ecstatic about it,' said Larry Durham, the owner of Durham Service Company and the Chairman of the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy Foundation. Durham explained that the grant money will go towards expanding NAHA's workforce development program throughout the state of Alabama. 'It's going to be used as seed money to start up more satellite programs around the state,' Durham said. NAHA offers classes and courses to train people who are interested in pursuing a career in the residential construction industry. Durham explained that there's a major shortage of new people joining the industry. Muscle Shoals welcomes new fire chief 'The average age of a journeyman plumber, electrician, carpenter, HVAC technician in state of Alabama is 57 years old,' Durham said. 'For every five the industry is losing, we're only gaining one back. The demand has never been greater for skilled construction services, and we're trying to do our best to rebuild that,' The Lowe's Foundation Gable Grants program has a similar goal. 'When we talk to our professionals out in the field, 9 out of 10 tell us, that they have trouble finding the workers they need,' Director of the Lowe's Foundation Betsy Conway said. 'So, being able to address this worker shortage crisis through these local programs like NAHA is really critical.' The Lowe's Foundation has pledged to donate $50 million dollars to organizations that support training programs in carpentry, construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and appliance repair. So far, the foundation says it has awarded $34 Million in Gable Grants towards that goal. Durham told News 19 that working with the Lowe's Foundation on the grant was a great process. He said NAHA originally applied for a $250,000 grant, but that quickly changed. 'What was astounding, is when Lowe's called us back and asked us if we could use an additional $250,000,' said Durham. That doubled their grant to a total of $500,000. Conway said the foundation was so impressed with NAHA's work that they had to double the funding. 'When I was on the call and NAHA started walking through all of their plans, the foundation board, which is a part of this process, was so impressed by their plans for future growth that after the call, we actually decided to go back to not and say, 'look, if we were able to provide you with more funding, what more could you do?'' Conway said. 'This expansion plan came back and we are just thrilled to be able to make this happen.' 'I think what NAHA is doing in northern Alabama, how they're now going to be able to replicate their program across the entire state, is a best practice that I hope many will replicate' Conway added. Durham told News 19 that NAHA plans to work with the state homebuilders association and other partners to get the ball rolling on expanding programming statewide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
