The Lowe’s Foundation has announced the third cohort of Gable Grants recipients, awarding funding to 12 community and technical colleges. These grants aim to expand and launch training programs that address the U.S.’s significant skilled trades labor shortage. This new cohort brings the total number of Gable Grant recipients to 60, with the Foundation’s investment reaching $43 million across 28 states since 2023. The grants are part of a broader five-year, $50 million commitment to support the recruitment, training, and development of 50,000 professionals in high-demand trades such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, construction, and property maintenance.
The selected colleges will use the grants to scale workforce programs tailored to local and regional needs. Blue Ridge Community College will bolster training in advanced manufacturing and various construction trades to support ongoing disaster recovery. Cape Fear Community College will integrate plumbing and maintenance training into correctional facilities and high schools using virtual reality tools. Community College of Rhode Island plans to expand its apprenticeship programs and develop new labs and academic pathways in construction management.
Florida State College at Jacksonville will enhance training access across the community, supporting large-scale construction initiatives, while the Los Angeles Community College District will focus on post-wildfire recovery efforts by strengthening programs in construction and utilities. Germanna Community College will deploy mobile units to extend training to rural and underserved areas, and Ivy Tech Community College will focus on displaced workers and learners reentering the workforce through its expanded maintenance and HVAC programs.
J.F. Ingram State Technical College will integrate virtual reality and shop-based learning for incarcerated individuals, supporting reentry into the workforce. Johnson College of Technology will expand its technical labs to meet labor demands in northeastern Pennsylvania. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Palm Beach State College, both receiving their second Gable Grants, will further enhance their trades programs and increase student access. Texas State Technical College will equip a large-scale Construction Technology Center and offer stipends to help students with tool costs.
The next application round for community-based nonprofits to apply for Gable Grants will open by invitation only from August 1 to August 31.
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